Follis of Maximinus II Daza, Alexandria 313

Curator: What a fascinating little object, isn't it? This is a follis of Maximinus II Daza, minted in Alexandria. It’s a bronze coin, and you can see the green patina of age. Editor: There's something quite poignant about its scale and the way time has eroded the details. Curator: Well, coins like this were powerful tools of imperial propaganda. They circulated widely, conveying the emperor's image and legitimacy. Editor: Yes, the very act of minting and distributing this, especially in Alexandria, speaks to the emperor's control, even his reach, over distant regions. Curator: Exactly. And the material itself—bronze—speaks to the economics of the time. It wasn't gold or silver, but a more accessible metal for mass production. Editor: It brings to life the social and political structures of the era, revealing how power was wielded. Curator: Indeed, even now, centuries later, the history is palpable. Editor: It certainly is. A little window into a vast empire.