Coin (AE2) of Magnentius, Lugdunum c. 350 - 353

Curator: Let’s look at this coin. It’s an AE2 of Magnentius, minted in Lugdunum. Editor: Immediately, I see the weight of history, quite literally, in such a small object. The wear tells a silent story of hands it passed through, lives touched… Curator: Exactly! Magnentius was a Roman usurper in the 4th century. Coins like this one were tools of propaganda, bearing his image and symbols of legitimacy. Editor: So, each coin, a tiny billboard? And the imagery, like the Chi-Rho on the reverse, wasn't just decoration—it was a bold claim of divine support, wasn't it? Curator: Precisely. That symbol, associating Magnentius with Christianity, speaks volumes about the political and religious tensions of the era. It's a powerful statement in miniature. Editor: It’s really quite something, this little bronze disc whispering tales of emperors, rebellions, faith, and power struggles across the centuries. Curator: Indeed. A tangible link to a turbulent past.