Coin of Dion under Gallienus c. 253 - 268

Curator: Here we have a bronze coin minted under the reign of Gallienus, specifically from Dion. Notice its weight, 8.96 grams, and the clear signs of handling and circulation. Editor: It looks like it has been through a lot. The worn surfaces speak volumes, don't they? I wonder about the hands it passed through, the transactions it facilitated... Curator: Precisely. The materiality of this coin—the bronze, the casting process, the imperial workshop that produced it—tells us about resource control, labor practices, and the empire's mechanisms of power. Editor: And the imagery itself reinforces this power. The depiction of leadership, however idealized, underscores the social hierarchies of the time and the very real lived experiences of those under Gallienus's rule. Even a simple coin becomes a powerful symbol of inequality. Curator: The coin serves as evidence of those material conditions, and the cultural values embedded within the economic systems. Editor: It brings the intersectional power of art and money to light. I think our brief look at it really highlighted the value in examining this piece. Curator: Indeed, a poignant reminder that even a small object can reveal much about history.