Antoninianus of Maximian, Antioch c. 293

Editor: Here we have an Antoninianus of Maximian, from Antioch. Looking at it, I'm struck by the material itself – it's so worn, you can see the effects of time and handling. What stands out to you about its materiality and the processes involved in its creation? Curator: Consider the labor invested: the mining, smelting, and striking of this coin. Each step embodies power relations. The coin isn't just an image of Maximian; it's a testament to the economic and social systems that sustained his rule. How does understanding the coin's production change your view of it? Editor: It makes me think about the vast resources commanded by the Roman Empire to produce even something as small as a coin, and how that impacted everyday life. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. It's a microcosm of imperial power, revealed through material analysis.