Bronze coin of Constantine I c. 319

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this bronze coin of Constantine I, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Its circular form and patinated surface offer a glimpse into ancient Roman artistry. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by how intimate it feels. To hold a piece of history so small, yet bearing the weight of an empire... it's kind of magical, right? Curator: Indeed. The obverse presents a profile of Constantine, while the reverse depicts a scene of imperial power, rendered with a level of detail that belies the coin's modest scale and weight, merely 2.9 grams. Editor: And look at how worn it is! You can almost feel the fingers that once clutched it, the transactions it facilitated. It makes you wonder about all the stories it could tell. Curator: Precisely. The coin serves as a potent symbol, not only of economic exchange but also of the emperor's image and authority, circulated throughout his vast domain. Editor: It's funny to think that something so small carried so much symbolic weight, like a tiny, portable propaganda machine. Curator: A poignant and somewhat weighty observation to end on. Editor: Well, I'm glad we could spend a bit of time in the company of Constantine.