AR Gallienus 

Editor: Here we have AR Gallienus, a Roman coin crafted by Gallienus. It's incredible how much history can be held in something so small. I'm struck by the worn texture and the faint imagery; what stories do you think it whispers? Curator: Oh, I love that, whispers! For me, it's a portal. I imagine the hand that last held it, what their worries were. A daily transaction, maybe a desperate plea for survival. This coin, debased silver really, speaks volumes about the economic instability of the Roman Empire during Gallienus' reign. Editor: Debased silver? So, even their money wasn't what it seemed. Curator: Exactly! It's all connected, isn't it? The art, the economy, the very soul of a civilization trying to hold on. What an artifact! Editor: It gives a whole new meaning to "small change," doesn't it? Thanks!