Follis of Maximian, Rome c. 306

Curator: Here we have a Follis of Maximian, made during his reign as emperor in Rome. Editor: Its patinated surface gives it such a tactile presence, doesn’t it? Almost like holding history itself. Curator: Indeed. This coin served as propaganda. Note the portrait of Maximian: the deliberate stylization aimed to project power. Editor: And the reverse side shows Justitia with her scales, symbolizing imperial justice—a common visual language of power. Curator: Precisely! The coin’s materiality speaks volumes about the empire’s ambition to disseminate its image and ideology. Editor: Looking closely at the design, I am struck by the interplay of symbolic forms and practical function. Curator: It truly encapsulates the intersection of art, power, and daily life in the Roman Empire. Editor: I leave more informed about the artistic design of political messaging in ancient Rome.