Coin of Arcadius, Alexandria 392 - 395

Editor: Here we have a coin of Arcadius from Alexandria. Given the weight of 5.06 grams, I wonder about the labor involved in its production and its value in trade. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This coin prompts questions about its materiality and the social context of its production. Bronze wasn't inherently valuable; its value was tied to the labor of extraction, refinement, and minting. How did the average person interact with this representation of power? Editor: So it's less about Arcadius himself and more about the system that created and circulated this object? Curator: Precisely. The coin’s real significance lies in its role within systems of exchange and power dynamics. Editor: I hadn't considered the coin as a product of multiple layers of labor before. Thanks! Curator: It's a reminder that even small objects can reveal complex social and economic narratives.