Follis of Licinius I, Alexandria 315

Curator: Here we have a Follis of Licinius I, Alexandria. It is an ancient coin. Editor: It looks weighty, like it's seen a lot. Its patina tells a story of power and trade. Curator: Indeed. Minted in Alexandria, likely during Licinius' reign, it served not only as currency but also as propaganda, reinforcing his image and authority. Editor: So, like visual tweets, but more durable and with less character space? Curator: Perhaps. This coin, with its depiction of Licinius, reflects the socio-political realities of the late Roman Empire. Coinage was a key tool for projecting imperial power. Editor: I'm thinking about the laborers, maybe even enslaved, who extracted and processed the materials to make this. Curator: An important point. We should consider the exploitative systems that made such displays of imperial authority possible. Editor: It's a small object that holds so much history. Curator: Precisely, a tangible reminder of past powers and their legacies.