Coin of Alexandreia under Commodus c. 2th century

Curator: Here we have a coin from Alexandreia under Commodus, weighing just over 6 grams. Editor: It has a somber feel to it, doesn’t it? The wear and oxidation speak volumes about its journey through time. Curator: Absolutely. These coins were not just currency; they were tools of imperial propaganda. Look at the detail, even in its current state. Editor: The figure on one side—likely Commodus himself—projects power, but it’s interesting to consider how such images were received by diverse populations within the vast Roman empire. What did it mean to those living under Roman rule? Curator: Indeed, coins like this were circulated widely, so it is fascinating to look at how such imperial messaging was disseminated in the ancient world. Editor: I wonder how many hands this coin passed through and what stories it could tell us about commerce, power, and resistance from different voices in society. Curator: A tangible link to a distant past, filled with questions of power and perspective. Editor: Precisely, it makes you think about the narratives we choose to preserve and whose voices are amplified in the process.