Dupondius of Trajan Decius (?) 

Curator: Here we have a dupondius, a Roman coin, possibly of Emperor Trajan Decius. What catches your eye about this small artifact? Editor: Well, immediately, it's the patinated bronze and the worn details, whispering of age and forgotten empires. It’s incredibly humbling. Curator: The coin's imagery is quite deliberate. We see the emperor on one side and a figure, likely a deity, on the other, each chosen to convey power and prosperity. Editor: Gods and emperors—you've got to love the symbolic pairing here. The emperor projects stability and strength, while the deity promises divine favor—a classic power move! Curator: Absolutely! Coins like this served as propaganda, circulating not only wealth but also specific ideals and messages throughout the empire. Editor: It's a tiny piece of metal, but it reveals an awful lot about how they saw themselves, about the narrative they wanted to be believed. Profound stuff. Curator: Indeed. It’s a tangible link to a complex, distant past. Editor: Something about holding this coin makes me feel that history is more like holding a mirror than something that stays behind us. Thanks for pointing that out.