Coin of Thessalonike under the Emperor Commodus c. 2th century

Curator: Wow, it looks like time itself has been given a physical form here. Editor: Indeed. This is a coin of Thessalonike, minted under the reign of the Emperor Commodus, a portrait of whom appears on one side. Curator: There's a certain weariness to the emperor's profile, even through the patina of age. And that verdigris only enhances the sense of passing eras. Editor: Commodus, who fancied himself a new Hercules, left a lasting impact. His image on currency broadcasts power, while the coin itself—a symbol of commerce and civic life—speaks to how images are manipulated in power relations. Curator: It's oddly beautiful, this tension between the intended message and the decay. Power, turned into something ancient and mossy. Editor: Right! And the coin once passed through countless hands—each touch a tiny act of devotion or necessity. Now, it whispers tales of an empire long vanished, yet ever-present in our collective consciousness.