Coin of Berytos under Gordian III c. 238 - 244

Curator: Here we have a coin of Berytos, issued during the reign of Gordian III. Editor: It appears quite weathered, doesn't it? The surfaces are heavily patinated, obscuring details. Curator: The patination, while obscuring, also emphasizes the coin's age and history. We can still discern the portrait of Gordian III on one side. The other side shows a figure, possibly a deity, though the details are faint. Editor: I imagine it once circulated through a society deeply stratified by power and privilege. The coin served as a potent symbol of imperial authority. Curator: Precisely. The iconography and inscriptions served to legitimize his rule, reflecting the complex symbolic language used in Roman coinage. Editor: Thinking about who handled it, what they bought, and how their lives were impacted by its value is more compelling to me than the artistry. Curator: Ultimately, this small object encapsulates a vast network of social, economic, and political relationships of its time. Editor: Agreed. A tangible link to the past that goes beyond its formal qualities.