Coin (AE2-3) of Constantius II, Constantinopolis 348 - 351

Editor: This is a coin featuring Constantius II, depicting Constantinopolis. It's fascinating to hold a physical object that once circulated in the Roman Empire. What can you tell me about its significance? Curator: Coins like these were tools of propaganda. The image of Constantinopolis, the personification of the new Roman capital, was a powerful message. What does it say to you about the emperor's priorities and the social dynamics of the time? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way, I see it as more than currency now! Curator: Exactly. Think about who controlled the minting of these coins, and what messages they were trying to disseminate about power, legitimacy, and cultural identity.