Coin of Patrai under Commodus 177 - 192

Curator: Here we have a coin minted in Patrai under Commodus. Editor: Its materiality is immediately striking; it feels aged, worn, like a tangible link to a distant, almost mythical past. Curator: The obverse presents a bust of Commodus, while the reverse possibly depicts a standing figure of a deity. The composition is circular, contained, self-referential even. Editor: This coin speaks volumes about labor, and the sheer physicality of its creation. The processes of mining, smelting, striking, and distributing these coins are worth considering. Curator: Indeed, and one can interpret Commodus's self-representation as an attempt to project power through the semiotics of portraiture. Editor: I see it as a testament to the countless hands it passed through, a humble object embedded in a vast network of Roman commerce and rule. Curator: Well, I'm left contemplating the coin's form and how it speaks to the ideals of the emperor. Editor: For me, it's a window into the labor and systems that underpinned Roman society.