Sestertius of Commodus c. 175 - 192

Curator: So, here we have a Sestertius, a coin minted under the reign of Commodus. Even though he’s not a name we hear much today, Commodus ruled Rome from 177 to 192 AD. Editor: Oh, my first thought? It feels haunted somehow. All that dark bronze, the way the figure seems to emerge from the shadows... it's got a serious weight to it. Curator: Well, I think the weight you’re feeling is, quite literally, there in the object itself - it’s a hefty coin, over 26 grams. Editor: Sure, there's physical heft, but also the weight of history. Coins are, after all, little cultural mirrors. I'm curious about the image on the reverse... Curator: You’re right. It is a fascinating example of propaganda through iconography. It depicts Commodus, styled as Hercules, with divine attributes, which tells us a lot about his ambitions and image-making. Editor: It's a potent reminder that even something as small as a coin could be a tool for shaping public perception, then and now. I wonder, what will *our* coins say about us centuries from now? Curator: Quite so. I guess the only thing we can do is wait and see.