Denarius of Commodus c. 2th century

Editor: Here we have a Denarius of Commodus. The silver is worn, yet this small coin speaks volumes. What can we glean from its materiality and circulation? Curator: Indeed. Think about the mining of silver, the labor involved in striking these coins, and how that material wealth was distributed to support the Roman economy and, importantly, Commodus’s reign. It’s not just about the image; it’s about the entire system of production and power embedded in this small object. Editor: So, the coin itself becomes a symbol of economic and social structures? Curator: Precisely. It's a tangible piece of a much larger, complex network of material exchange and social control. Now, how does knowing that shift your perspective on the coin? Editor: It's fascinating to think of it less as just currency, but as a physical manifestation of labor and power. Thanks for showing me a fresh perspective! Curator: My pleasure! Analyzing art through its materiality reveals layers of meaning often overlooked.