Sestertius of Philip I 

Editor: Here we have a Sestertius of Philip I, the Arab. It's a small bronze coin, now heavily patinated, which gives it a beautiful green hue. What can you tell me about its materiality? Curator: Considering its function as currency, we need to examine the economic context. Who controlled the mines? What was the labor like for those producing the metal? The coin's eventual decay also speaks to its lifespan within economic and social systems. Editor: So, more than just an image of Philip, it’s a record of the Roman economy at the time. Curator: Exactly. How it was made, circulated, and ultimately buried or lost reveals a complex relationship between power, labor, and material culture. Editor: That’s definitely given me a different way to appreciate this little coin.