Coin of Ephesus under Commodus 

Curator: This bronze coin, "Coin of Ephesus under Commodus," struck during Commodus' reign, offers a fascinating glimpse into Roman provincial administration and artistic production. Editor: It looks quite worn. There’s a solemnity conveyed through the patinated surface, a weight of history. What was its function? Curator: Beyond currency, these coins acted as propaganda. The imagery and inscriptions reinforced Roman power and Commodus' legitimacy within the provinces. We see his portrait on one side. Editor: The other side seems to depict some sort of ritual procession. I wonder about the cultural negotiations happening here, the ways local Ephesian traditions were being reshaped by Roman imperial ideology. Curator: Absolutely. The coin is a material object, but also a site of cultural exchange, reflecting the complex power dynamics between Rome and its provinces. Editor: Seeing it, holding it, you imagine the labor involved in its production, and the hands it passed through—each touch imbued with its own story. Curator: A potent reminder of the interconnectedness of history and material culture. Editor: Precisely, and how these seemingly small artifacts hold profound narratives of identity and influence.