Coin (AE2) of Constantius II, Antioch 350 - 355

Curator: Here we have a bronze coin from the city of Antioch, minted during the reign of Constantius II. Editor: It’s striking how worn it is; I immediately notice the surface texture, the way it speaks of handling, of passing through countless hands. Curator: Precisely. As a form of imperial portraiture, its value transcends mere currency. Coins like this served as propaganda, disseminating the emperor's image and authority. Editor: And the very act of minting – the stamping, the labor involved – underscores the empire’s economic and administrative reach. What’s left is this flattened piece of metal that once symbolized so much. Curator: It really is incredible to think of the social and political weight such a small, unassuming object carried. Editor: Yes, you can really feel the weight of history in the very materials.