Coin of Samosata under Philip II c. 247 - 249

Editor: This is a coin of Samosata under Philip II. It looks to be in rough shape, almost as if it's carrying the weight of centuries. What do you see in this little piece of history? Curator: I see a tangible link to a distant past, a whisper from an empire. The wear and tear aren't just damage; they're stories etched into the metal itself. Think of the hands this coin passed through! A Roman soldier, a merchant selling spices, maybe even a child buying sweets. It's like holding a miniature time capsule. Editor: That's beautiful. It makes you wonder about all the lost narratives. Curator: Exactly! And isn't that the magic of art, especially something like this? It's not just about what's visible, but what’s evoked. Coins often outlast empires, you know, like stubborn weeds in the garden of time. Editor: That really changes how I see it. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Now you hold a story in your palm, not just some metal.