Antoninianus of Philip II c. 3th century

Curator: Look closely at this Antoninianus—a silver coin featuring Philip II. It's so much more than mere currency, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely. It's amazing how this small object carries the weight of an empire. The image of Philip—it feels… stern. Regal, of course, but also a little sad? Curator: Coins were powerful propaganda. Philip is deliberately portrayed to convey authority. That image of the emperor would be instantly recognizable throughout the empire. Editor: It’s also a symbol of power and the enduring human need for legacy. To hold it is to touch the past. It makes you wonder about all the hands it passed through. Curator: Exactly! It’s a tiny portal to another world. Editor: It makes me think about how images are used and reused to make us think a certain way. Curator: And to think, this little coin once represented such a vast, complex world. Editor: Yes, what a relic! A small world frozen in time.