Antoninianus of Valerian, Antioch 255 - 256

Editor: Here we have an Antoninianus coin of Valerian, made in Antioch. It looks so small and worn, but carries such weight. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: I'm drawn to the layers of history etched into its surface. Think about the hands it passed through, the stories it silently witnessed. It is both currency and a portrait, proclaiming power but rendered fragile by time. Editor: So it's not just an object, but a portal? Curator: Precisely! A pocket-sized time machine, inviting us to consider the fleeting nature of empires and the enduring power of art. It makes you wonder, what will our coins say about us? Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks!