Denarius of Commodus c. 2th century

Curator: This is a Denarius of Commodus, named after the Roman Emperor who ruled from 177 to 192 AD. Editor: It's amazing how something so small feels so heavy with history. It’s battered, yes, but evokes the opulence and decay of an empire. Curator: Coins such as this were not just currency; they were powerful tools for disseminating imperial propaganda. Commodus used his coinage to project a specific image of himself and his reign. Editor: I see a portrait, a rather stern profile. I can almost feel the weight of expectations, or perhaps the burden of power etched on his face. Curator: His reign, marked by extravagance and political instability, reveals deep fissures within the Roman social and political structures. This object embodies the tensions inherent in imperial rule. Editor: Makes you wonder what hands this little coin passed through. Imagine the stories it could tell! Anyway, I find myself reflecting on how we still use images to define ourselves. Curator: Indeed. Currency remains a potent symbol, reflecting not only economic value but also cultural and political ideologies. Editor: Seeing this coin grounds me. Reminds me that empires rise and fall, but art... art can outlive them all.