Coin of Arcadius, Constantinople 388 - 392

Editor: This is a fascinating object. It's a coin of Arcadius from Constantinople, but it’s so small! What secrets do you think this little coin holds? Curator: Well, imagine holding a whole empire in your palm, or at least, a symbol of it. It’s easy to overlook something so diminutive, but this coin was currency, propaganda, and a statement all in one. How's that for multitasking? Editor: So, how would this coin have been used? Curator: Pocket change for some, perhaps, but for others, it might have represented their connection to Arcadius himself. Think of it as a tiny billboard, whispering messages of imperial power into everyday life. Makes you wonder what stories it could tell, doesn’t it? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. It gives a new perspective on history!