Antoninianus of Diocletian, Siscia 293 - 295

Curator: This is an Antoninianus of Diocletian, minted in Siscia. Editor: It looks aged, but sturdy. I am struck by the patina—a very grounding bronze. Curator: Indeed. Look at the composition. The coin's surfaces feature meticulously rendered figures—Diocletian himself, and what appears to be a representation of Concordia. Editor: Concordia, the goddess of harmony. Placing her on the coin evokes a desire for unity and peace, a powerful message during Diocletian's reign filled with reform and, of course, imperial authority. Curator: Precisely. And the inscription encircling Diocletian's portrait—it's a study in controlled symmetry. Editor: Considering its small scale, it conveys so much about Diocletian's aspirations and imperial ideology. Curator: A fascinating intersection of form and function, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Absolutely, a small artifact carrying immense cultural weight.