Coin of Thessalonike under the Emperor Caracalla c. 2th - 3th century

Editor: This is a coin from Thessalonike under the Emperor Caracalla. I’m struck by the decay, how time and the elements have changed the very material of the coin. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Its material transformation over time speaks volumes. Bronze, a common material, connects it to everyday production. The coin's worn state reveals circulation patterns, trade routes, and economic conditions, challenging notions of the emperor's singular power. Editor: So, the coin is more than just a portrait? Curator: Exactly. Consider how the labor of its creation, from the mine to the mint, contrasts with the image it projects. Editor: That's a great way to think about it! Curator: Indeed, seeing the coin's materiality shifts our focus from the emperor to the economic and social systems of its time.