Coin of Anazarbos c. 194 - 195

Curator: Look at this "Coin of Anazarbos," once held by someone, minted perhaps while Julia Domna lived. It feels like holding a tiny piece of an empire. Editor: Yes, there's an undeniable weight to it, even if it's just 9.13 grams. I'm fascinated by the patinas, like layers of history, obscuring and revealing the image. Curator: Exactly. It's not just metal; it's memory. We can almost feel the echoes of this woman who was empress, powerful yet confined by her role. Editor: The portrait is haunting, too. You can feel the weight of expectation and power. The coin as a symbol, of course, but also as a little psychological portrait. Curator: It's wild to think of how many hands it passed through, each touch leaving its mark. It’s a tangible link to the past. Editor: Absolutely, and the coin itself becomes a symbol of continuity—power, trade, and the enduring image of the empress. It invites us to reflect on the weight we give to our own symbols.