Coin of Perge under Gallienus 253 - 268

Editor: This is a coin from Perge, minted during the reign of Gallienus. It’s small, worn, but so evocative. What symbols do you see embedded in its imagery? Curator: The emperor's image, even fragmented by time, carries immense symbolic weight. Consider, how did the act of placing his likeness on currency reinforce his power and project a specific identity? Editor: It's like controlling the narrative, isn't it? Curator: Precisely. The images, even the material itself, held meaning. It was a language understood across the empire. Can you imagine the stories this small object could tell about trade, politics, and beliefs? Editor: I never thought a coin could be so complex. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Remember, every image holds a history, waiting to be deciphered.