Coin of Cyrrhus under Lucius Verus c. 2th century

Editor: This is a coin from Cyrrhus, dating back to the time of Lucius Verus. It's amazing to hold something so old! What significance do you find in its imagery? Curator: The coin presents more than currency; it's a vessel of cultural memory. Note the portrait of Lucius Verus, a carefully constructed image of power and authority, designed to project Roman ideals. Editor: So, it’s more than just a depiction of a ruler? Curator: Precisely. Consider what symbols were chosen, how they were rendered, and what message they were intended to convey. Coins were powerful tools of propaganda. And now they are symbols of that era. Editor: That makes me look at coins in a different light. There’s a lot to unpack from an object so small.