Coin of Antioch on the Orontes under Volusian c. 251 - 253

Curator: This coin, minted in Antioch during the reign of Volusian, offers a glimpse into Roman provincial administration. The production of currency, even at this scale, involved complex labor systems and resource extraction. Editor: It's striking how much symbolic weight this small object carries. I see a gateway, perhaps representing the city itself, framed by what appear to be celestial symbols, giving a sense of civic pride. Curator: Indeed, the materiality of the coin itself—its copper content, its weight of nearly 19 grams—tells us about trade routes and economic value within the Roman Empire. The minting process was a carefully controlled craft. Editor: And that image of Volusian...it speaks to the cult of the emperor, the deification of leadership. The coin wasn’t just money, but propaganda. Curator: Precisely. Examining this coin gives insight into Roman economic practices and administrative control in its provinces. Editor: It truly holds layers of meaning.