Anonymous City Commemorative Coin, Trier 332 - 333

Editor: Here we have a commemorative coin from Trier, created by Constantine I. It’s small, obviously, and the portrait has a weathered, powerful feel. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Well, beyond the obvious imperial propaganda, consider the *circulation* of such coins. Who held them, and what power dynamics were at play? Editor: You mean beyond just the emperor trying to look good? Curator: Exactly. Think about the social stratification, the economic realities, and the messages these objects subtly, or not so subtly, reinforced about Roman power structures. The coin is not just art; it’s a tool. Editor: That’s a really interesting way of seeing it. I hadn’t thought about the coin as a tool of power and social control. Curator: It certainly gives you a lot to think about.