Coin of Isinda 

Curator: The "Coin of Isinda," featuring Volusian, gives us a glimpse into the visual culture of the Roman Empire. Its heft is 7.2 g. Editor: It feels weighty with history, doesn't it? You can sense the hands that held it, the transactions it facilitated. It's a tangible link to a different time. Curator: Coins were powerful tools. They were mini-billboards spreading imperial propaganda. The portrait of Volusian would have reinforced his authority across the region. Editor: Absolutely, and whose stories are amplified versus whose are silenced? Coins are inherently political, shaping public perception and solidifying power structures. What does it mean to circulate images of power? Curator: This coin highlights how the Roman state used portraiture to project strength, stability, and legitimacy. It shows the mechanisms of control, of cultural influence. Editor: It's a stark reminder that even small, everyday objects can carry significant political weight. Curator: Indeed, it prompts us to reflect on the lasting impact of such calculated visual communication. Editor: Right, and to look critically at the symbols and images that surround us today.