Coin of Philippolis under the Emperor Commodus c. 2th century

Curator: Here we have a coin from Philippolis dating back to the reign of the Emperor Commodus. Editor: It’s incredible how much history can be held in such a small, worn object. You can almost feel the weight of the past in its texture. Curator: Precisely. This coin offers a glimpse into the political and economic landscape of the Roman Empire, particularly the power dynamics between Rome and its provinces. Editor: I find myself wondering about the hands that touched it, the markets it circulated through, and the very act of its creation. The coining process itself—the labor, the materials, the technology. Curator: Absolutely. Commodus' reign was controversial, and coins like this served as propaganda, projecting imperial authority across vast distances. It was a public relations strategy, really. Editor: It is almost a form of early mass production, using the image of power as a commodity in itself. What a clever means of distribution. Curator: It reminds us that art and power have always been intertwined. Editor: Indeed, by examining the material reality, we’ve unlocked a story far grander than the coin's mere weight.