Antoninianus of Gallienus c. 3th century

Curator: This is an Antoninianus, a coin issued during the reign of the Roman Emperor Gallienus. I’m struck by how this small object connects us to the political and economic realities of the Roman Empire. Editor: It certainly feels weighty. The wear and tear suggest it's been passed through countless hands. I notice a figure on one side—a draped woman? What does she represent? Curator: That's likely a depiction of a Roman deity. Coins were powerful propaganda tools, used to disseminate imperial imagery and reinforce ideas about power and divine right. Editor: So, even these tiny objects participated in shaping public perception and maintaining political order. It makes you wonder about the messages we carry in our own pockets today. Curator: Absolutely. And the symbols and figures chosen reveal much about the values and priorities of the ruling elite, and the empire's efforts to maintain its cultural narrative. Editor: It's amazing to think that such a small, unassuming artifact can tell us so much about the grand sweep of history.