Follis of Maximian, Carthage 305 - 306

Editor: Here we have the Follis of Maximian, a Roman coin from Carthage. The copper is worn, yet carries echoes of its past. I wonder about the stories this little disc could tell. What do you think of it? Curator: It's a whisper from a vast empire, isn't it? I feel Maximian's ambition pressed into the metal. Consider how portable and reproducible these objects were! What impact do you imagine this might have had on communicating power and influence? Editor: Fascinating! I hadn't thought of it as mass communication. Curator: Exactly! Each coin, a mini-billboard. It’s easy to overlook the intention in such a small piece, but the message is there. Editor: I see that now. It's incredible to think about what a tiny coin can reveal!