Coin (AE4) of Valentinian II 388 - 392

Curator: Looking at this coin, I feel a connection to something ancient, almost dreamlike. Editor: Indeed. This is a coin, designated AE4, minted under the reign of Valentinian II. It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Let's contextualize its significance. Curator: It's so small, yet I can almost feel the weight of an empire resting on it. What do you make of the imagery? Editor: The coin speaks volumes about power, legitimacy, and visual propaganda in the late Roman Empire. We see the emperor's image, intentionally crafted to project authority, but also religious symbolism to legitimize his rule. Curator: It's incredible how art, even on such a tiny scale, has always been used to convey messages, manipulate perceptions. Editor: Precisely. Think about the labor, the resources, the socio-political forces at play in its creation, and how we can still engage with that history. Curator: It makes me wonder about the hands it passed through, the stories it could tell. Editor: Absolutely. It's a tangible link to a world that shaped our own. A potent reminder of history.