Antoninianus of Antioch under Salonina c. 255 - 258

Editor: Here we have an Antoninianus of Antioch, created under Salonina. It’s small, silver, and worn smooth by time. It looks like it was once someone’s prized possession. What whispers of history do you hear emanating from it? Curator: Oh, this little coin sings a whole opera of power and femininity! Imagine Salonina, not just an empress, but commissioning her own coinage. Think of the message: "I’m not just a pretty face on my husband’s coin, I’m here, I’m relevant, and I’m enduring." Editor: So, the images on the coin were a way of declaring her authority? Curator: Absolutely! Each coin, a miniature billboard saying, "Salonina matters." It’s fascinating how such a tiny object can hold so much weight, isn't it? Now, does that change how you see it? Editor: It does. It's like holding a piece of her ambition. Curator: Exactly!