Sestertius of Philip I c. 245

Editor: Here we have a sestertius of Philip I, the Arab. Seeing this ancient coin makes me think about how even rulers are eventually reduced to pocket change, destined to be handled by strangers centuries later. What do you think? Curator: That’s a beautiful, if somewhat melancholy, observation. I see the coin as a powerful, if tiny, echo of imperial ambition. It’s a tangible link to a ruler trying to imprint his image, quite literally, on history. Does the weight of it, the heft, suggest anything to you? Editor: Now that you mention it, its weight does feel substantial. Almost like holding a little piece of history in my hand! Thanks for your insight. Curator: And thank you for yours; it reminds us that art, even in its most utilitarian forms, speaks to our shared humanity across time.