Coin of Viminacium under Philip I c. 244

Editor: Here we have a bronze coin of Viminacium under Philip I, now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Considering its age, it's remarkable that we can still see the details. What stands out to you about the symbolism here? Curator: Coins are fascinating objects, aren’t they? Each one is like a miniature cultural touchstone. The portrait of Philip I, the Arab, connects us directly to his image, carefully crafted for authority. But what symbols on the reverse might speak to the city of Viminacium itself? Editor: I see what looks like a figure and maybe some sort of animal? Curator: Precisely! Consider that the coin wasn't just about Philip, but about Viminacium’s identity, its ambitions, and its place within the Roman Empire. How do you think the imagery on this coin might have shaped the collective memory of Viminacium’s inhabitants? Editor: That's a whole new way to look at something as simple as a coin. It makes you wonder what symbols we use today that will carry meaning centuries from now.