Follis of Galeria Valeria, Alexandria 308 - 310

Editor: This is a Follis of Galeria Valeria, from Alexandria, a coin. It's quite small and worn. What can you tell me about its historical significance? Curator: Coins like this weren't just currency; they were instruments of imperial propaganda. Galeria Valeria was the wife of Emperor Galerius; distributing these coins throughout the Roman Empire was about publicly legitimizing his rule and showcasing his family. Editor: So it was like a political poster in metal? Curator: Exactly. The imagery, even the very act of minting and circulating these coins, was a performance of power. What do you make of the imagery itself? Editor: Knowing that changes how I see it; it's not just money, it's a message. Curator: Precisely. And that message shaped the perception of imperial authority.