Coin (AE4) of Constantine I after 337

Curator: This is a coin, an AE4 of Constantine I, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s small, only 1.79 grams. Editor: It looks like it carries the weight of ages. It's amazing how such a tiny object can whisper so many stories, a tactile link to a distant emperor. It has a melancholy feel. Curator: Well, coins like these were mass-produced, distributed across the Roman Empire. Each one was a little piece of propaganda, helping to solidify Constantine’s power, particularly after his conversion to Christianity. Editor: Propaganda, yes, but also portable art. I imagine someone clutching it, maybe nervously, as they make a purchase, or a child finding it in the dirt, their imagination instantly ignited. What an aura! Curator: True. They were handled by countless people. A material trace of daily life and imperial ambition, all mixed together. Editor: It is a great reminder of history's reach and a physical connection to humanity's shared story. Curator: Agreed. Even in its worn condition, it serves as a powerful historical artifact.