Coin (AE4) of Constans, Thessalonica c. 4th century

Curator: Here we see a coin, an AE4 of Constans, minted in Thessalonica. Editor: It looks so worn, like it has passed through so many hands. You can almost feel the stories embedded in its pitted surface. Curator: Absolutely. These coins were small, easily circulated, and vital to the economic and political infrastructure of the Roman Empire. Editor: And speaking of infrastructure, think about the labor that went into making this. From the mining of the metal to the crafting of the die, each step represents human effort and skill. Curator: Indeed. And the image itself, the portrait of Constans, served as propaganda, a constant reminder of imperial authority. Editor: It's remarkable how something so small could carry so much weight – both literally, in terms of its material value, and symbolically, in terms of its power. Curator: Precisely. It shows us the ways in which objects, even mundane ones, can reflect the larger forces shaping society. Editor: It makes you wonder about the hands it passed through and how this small thing shaped their days.