Coin of Alexandreia Troas under Commodus c. 177 - 192

Editor: Here we have a coin of Alexandreia Troas under Commodus. It's incredible to consider how this small object connects us to the Roman Empire! What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: Indeed! The fox, for example. It carries a complex weight—sometimes symbolizing cunning and trickery, other times resilience and adaptability. Why a fox? Editor: Perhaps to highlight a specific trait they wanted to associate with Commodus’s reign? Curator: Precisely! Or even a subtle critique. Symbols are never neutral. It is the cultural memory that is embedded and communicated. What do you think that means for us today? Editor: It suggests that these images, even on a coin, were carefully chosen to shape public perception, even now, it is fascinating to see what this coin evokes. Curator: Exactly. The past continues to speak through these enduring symbols.