Where Have You Been My Ancient Coin

One of my hobbies is collecting coins. I have a small assembly of ancient and U .S. coins that keep my attention. I love to imagine where the coins have been, whose hands they have touched and what did they buy? The poem represented here i s of my oldest coin from circa 305 AD to 311 AD and is over 1700 years old. Can you fathom the events in history this coin could have been a part of. Here is m y poem of my favorite coin. As you read it, let the images of warriors, senators and the “republic” flood your m ind and spark a thirst for history as it did for me. As always, please leave a comment. Enjoy, The Great Plains Poet Where Have You Been My Ancient Coin a poem by Chris T. Oh where have you been my ancient coin I wonder what aged hands have you passed through Were you the possession of a senator Or payment to finance the latest coup Did you pay for a plebeians taxes Or, did you secure a tribune’s vote Maybe you purchased a patrician’s tunic Or, been used to deliver a note Your Roman bronze was struck by hand With the face of Galerius embossing the denomination The force of your hammering has left you oval in shape With the word “Imperator” showing your deification Has my coin traveled to Persia The site of the emperor’s great feat Or, did you go no farther Than the bath’s soothing heat Grain, wine or lamp oil would make a smart choice Maybe your purchase was more carnal in nature Did my coin secure an artist for a fresco Or are you the gathered earnings of a business venture Were you wagered on a gladiator Or in a gambling hall Were you victorious that day Or did your champion fall You were forged in the province of Antioch Along side the many Roman roads Did you enter Ephesus,Phillipi or Corinth And did you enter the gates of Rome Did you buy a gladius A soldier’s great sword Or did you provide payment To feed the Roman horde Many images flood my mind Of my ancient coin of old If only this bronze piece could speak And its story would be told.