Coin (AE4) of Constans, Trier 335 - 337

Editor: This is an ancient coin, an AE4 of Constans, made in Trier. The wear and tear are really prominent; it feels like a tangible connection to the past. What can we learn from its materiality and production? Curator: Consider the base metal used, likely a debased bronze due to economic pressures. The striking process itself, a mass production technique, speaks to the Roman Empire's need for circulating currency, and control of resources to produce it. Editor: So, the very composition of the coin reflects the empire's economic and political realities? Curator: Precisely. Even the location of the mint, Trier, is significant. It reflects the strategic importance of the city within the empire's production and distribution network. Editor: I never thought about a coin telling such a complex story! Curator: Materiality, production, and context – they’re all interwoven.