Coin of Seleukeia ad Kalykadnos c. 193 - 211

Curator: Well, hello there. Up next is a fascinating artifact: a "Coin of Seleukeia ad Kalykadnos," associated with Septimius Severus. It's a small, unassuming thing, really, but history whispers from its patinated surface. Editor: It certainly does look like it has stories to tell. My first impression is, I feel like I'm looking at an ancient sea stone, something smoothed by time and tide. It feels grounding. Curator: It's a potent symbol of power and commerce, isn't it? The images pressed into the metal, though worn, likely depicted rulers or gods. A miniature billboard of sorts. Editor: Absolutely, and that wear and tear is telling! It speaks volumes about circulation, about changing hands and pockets, about the weight of economy and belief pressing down on those images. Curator: In a way, that wear makes it more personal, doesn’t it? Less an object of state and more a tangible link to the past. I imagine all the transactions this humble coin could have made! Editor: Exactly! It's a fascinating reminder that even the most mundane objects can carry immense emotional, cultural, and psychological weight, connecting us to a shared human experience across time. Curator: It seems insignificant until you touch it, but that touch is direct contact with the past. What a powerful object. Editor: Yes, a humble but essential cultural artifact, indeed.