Antoninianus of Claudius II c. 3th century

Editor: Here we have an Antoninianus of Claudius II. Looking at this small, worn coin, it's incredible to think of the hands it passed through. What can we learn from examining it? Curator: Consider the labor. Each coin represents extracted resources, mined and processed, then struck with dies crafted by skilled artisans. What does its circulation tell us about the Roman economy and its dependence on material resources and exploitative labor practices? Editor: So, it's less about Claudius II himself and more about the system that produced this object? Curator: Precisely. This coin speaks volumes about the Roman state’s means of production, dissemination of power, and the vast network of material and human resources it commanded. What survives physically speaks to a far wider network of exploitation. Editor: I never thought about a coin in that way before. It’s a stark reminder of the costs behind these historical artifacts. Curator: Absolutely. By focusing on materiality, we uncover the hidden stories of labor and consumption embedded within even the smallest object.