Coin of Corinth under Commodus 177 - 192

Editor: This is a bronze coin from Corinth, dating back to the reign of Commodus. The texture looks rough, but you can still make out the images. What do you see when you look at this coin? Curator: The relief work, despite its degradation, reveals a structured dichotomy. On one side, a portrait, likely of Commodus himself, signifying authority. And on the other, a reclining lion, perhaps symbolizing power or the city of Corinth itself. Editor: So the lion isn't just a random animal? Curator: Precisely. The deliberate contrast and balance speak to a sophisticated understanding of visual communication. It is a microcosm of power dynamics rendered in miniature form. Editor: I never thought of a coin as a way of understanding power like that. Curator: Indeed. It's fascinating how such a small object can reveal so much about the structure of its time.