Coin of Adana under Valerian c. 253 - 260

Editor: Here we have a coin of Adana under Valerian, dating back to...well, we don't know exactly when, made under the reign of Valerian I. It's so small, but somehow still holds such weight. What do you make of this little artifact? Curator: It's more than small, it's a portal! I imagine the hands that held it, the markets it crossed. A portrait of power, literally pocket-sized. And that wear, it tells of countless transactions and journeys. Ever wonder if it bought someone a loaf of bread, or maybe a bit of rebellion? Editor: Rebellion bought with a coin? Intriguing. So, this isn't just about economics? Curator: Oh, no. It's about how power imprints itself on the mundane, how empires circulate in our daily lives, even now. Makes you think, doesn't it? Editor: It really does. I'll never look at spare change the same way again. Curator: That's the magic of art, isn't it? Transforming the everyday into something extraordinary.