Coin of Perge under Gallienus 253 - 268

Editor: Here we have a coin of Perge under Gallienus. It's small, worn, but still carries the weight of history. What stories do you think it tells? Curator: This coin speaks volumes about power and representation. Gallienus, like many rulers, used coinage to project his image and authority. How might the imagery on this coin reinforce or challenge existing social hierarchies of the time? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about it that way. Curator: Consider the potential messages conveyed through the depiction of power. The act of creating and circulating currency was itself an assertion of control. Does this coin make you wonder about the communities who used it? Editor: Definitely. It makes you think about the past in a different way. Curator: Exactly. These objects invite us to reflect on the relationships between rulers and the ruled, and how those relationships were visually constructed and circulated. Editor: I'll definitely look at coins differently from now on!