Coin of Mytilene under Commodus c. 2th century

Curator: Here we have a coin of Mytilene under Commodus, a small bronze piece now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs a mere 3.14 grams. Editor: It's incredible to think this little disc held so much symbolic weight. There's something haunting about these portraits of power cast in such a humble form. Curator: Indeed. Coins are fascinating. They served as a form of mass media, disseminating images of the emperor and his authority across the Roman world. Consider Commodus's reputation—a ruler often criticized. Editor: It's a potent reminder that history is written, or in this case minted, by the victors. And sometimes by the deeply flawed. What stories could this little piece of metal tell about Commodus’ rule and Mytilene's experience under him? Curator: Exactly. It highlights the complex relationship between imperial power and local autonomy, all wrapped up in a tiny, tangible object. Editor: Makes you wonder about all the hands it passed through, the lives it touched. A tiny window into a vast, complex world.