Coin of Sardis under Caracalla c. 198s - 208s

Editor: Here we have a coin from Sardis under Caracalla. It's small, of course, but what stories it could tell. What catches your eye when you look at this artifact? Curator: Well, immediately, the wear and tear. It’s a little like looking in a mirror, isn't it? Time leaves its mark, blurring edges and softening details. Do you see the figures on the reverse? Editor: I do. They look like they could be gods. Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe they're just some of the players in Caracalla's theater of power. The coin itself served a purpose, beyond just money, to spread an image and to communicate power. It makes me wonder who held this coin, what their lives were like. Editor: That's a beautiful way to think about it. I guess every object has a story. Curator: Exactly! And sometimes, the most profound stories are etched onto the smallest surfaces.