Sestertius of Commodus 

Editor: Here we have a Sestertius, a Roman coin, struck during the reign of Commodus. The coin is bronze and, looking at it, I'm struck by how worn it appears, like it's carrying centuries of stories. What do you make of it? Curator: It whispers tales, doesn't it? I imagine it changing hands countless times, a tangible link to a distant era. Look closely at the details, or what’s left of them. Can you almost see the emperor’s face, the inscription? It's a ghostly echo, really. Editor: I think I can make out a faint image of the Emperor. It seems like he wanted to be remembered. Curator: Absolutely! It's a statement of power, isn't it? The image of the ruler stamped onto everyday currency. And what does it mean that something so carefully crafted is now so… weathered? Editor: That it’s survived. I guess I never thought of a coin as a kind of portrait before. Curator: Exactly! Think of it: holding a tiny piece of someone's life, a king, a soldier, a merchant. What a treasure.