Coin of Kassandreia under Commodus c. 2th century

Curator: What strikes me first is the patina, that beautiful green that time has painted on this ancient coin. It feels like holding a piece of history, almost like the earth itself. Editor: Indeed. This is a coin of Kassandreia, dating from the reign of Commodus. The material, likely bronze, would have been mined, smelted, and then die-struck—each step a form of labor, embedded in the object. Curator: I wonder who held this coin, what it bought, what stories it could tell. The face of Commodus—a man known for his vanity and cruelty—immortalized on something so small and easily lost. Editor: And consider the economics of it. This coin facilitated exchange, a tangible representation of value dictated by the Roman state. The imagery served to legitimize Commodus' rule, a form of propaganda distributed widely. Curator: There's something haunting about holding power in your hand like this. To me, it’s a reminder of how even empires crumble, how everything we build eventually returns to the earth. Editor: Ultimately, its endurance is a testament to the labour and resources invested, and to its ongoing role as a marker of social and political forces.