Coin (AE4) of Constantine I c. 4th century

Editor: This is a coin, an AE4 of Constantine I. It's incredibly small. What sort of meaning can we find in an object like this? Curator: It is less about intrinsic value and more about symbolic power. Currency, especially portraiture, functions as propaganda. Consider what symbols are deployed to convey a ruler’s power and legitimacy. Do you see any repeating motifs? Editor: I see the head of Constantine on one side, and a figure of perhaps a Roman soldier on the other side of the coin. Curator: Precisely! The emperor's likeness becomes synonymous with the empire, and the soldier embodies military strength. What do you think a population might infer from these symbols on their currency? Editor: I suppose it's a reminder of both their leader's power and their own state's might. It’s fascinating how much meaning can be packed into something so small.