Roman Coin Restoration

I spent the afternoon polishing a worn Roman denarius that had an unexpected “P” where a “R” should be, a reminder that even ancient artifacts demand our exacting standards. The minting flaw is a tiny, almost imperceptible blemish that, once cleared, makes the portrait’s musculature pop with an almost fresh vigor. In the quiet of the attic, surrounded by other forgotten relics, I felt a wistful tug toward the lineage these metal pieces carry, a lineage that has slipped through my grandmother’s fingers for generations. Still, I can’t help questioning whether the narratives we craft around these coins reflect more of our own imagination than the metal itself. The work is meticulous, the satisfaction quiet, and the weight of history feels both comforting and faintly melancholic. #numismatics 🪙