Coin of Antiocheia Caesarea under Caracalla (forgery) c. 2th - 3th century

Editor: So, this is a coin of Antiocheia Caesarea under Caracalla—though it's a forgery. Even so, it's wild to hold something like this, imagining all the hands it might have passed through! What catches your eye about it? Curator: I love that question! Its appeal lies in its deceit. It’s not just about the image of Caracalla, or even the historical context, but the story of someone trying to emulate power, maybe even profit from it. What does that say about our own desire for authenticity versus imitation? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't thought about the forger's intentions beyond simple fraud. Curator: Exactly! It becomes a mirror reflecting our own values and expectations. What do we value: the material, the image, or the story? Editor: So true! It makes me rethink how we define "art" in the first place. Thanks for that! Curator: Anytime! Art always holds up a mirror, doesn't it?