Coin of Dorylaeum under Gordian III c. 3th century

Curator: Looking at this coin of Dorylaeum under Gordian III, what strikes you first? Editor: Its weathered surface speaks volumes, doesn't it? It evokes the weight of history, empire, and the countless hands it must have passed through. Curator: Indeed. Coins like this weren't merely currency; they served as propaganda, circulating the emperor's image and asserting Roman power throughout the empire. We can consider what identities were reinforced by this portrait. Editor: And also who was excluded. I'm thinking about the politics embedded in its imagery, the power dynamics at play, and how this seemingly simple object contributed to shaping perceptions of leadership and belonging. Curator: Exactly. We can also look at who controlled the mints, and how the coins themselves became symbols of economic and social control within the Roman Empire. Editor: Reflecting on its journey helps us to think about how objects mediate power, influence, and belonging across different periods. Curator: Absolutely. It's a tangible connection to a complex past, isn't it?