Sestertius of Philip I, Rome c. 245

Editor: Here we have a sestertius of Philip I, made in Rome. The weight of it is 17.64 grams. The figure on one side looks so regal, like the idea of power cast in metal. What symbols strike you most in this piece? Curator: The laurel wreath signals triumph and imperial authority, doesn't it? But consider the seated figure on the reverse: is that Pax, holding an olive branch? What memory of peace was Philip trying to evoke, and for whom? Editor: That's fascinating, I hadn't considered the connection between the two figures. It gives a new dimension to what is on the coin. Curator: Precisely. Even simple iconography carries a lot more significance.