Coin (AE4) of Constantine I, Nicomedia 347 - 348

Curator: This is a coin, specifically an AE4, of Constantine I, struck in Nicomedia. Editor: It's small, isn't it? And the wear speaks volumes, it's almost like it's whispering a story. Curator: Absolutely. Think about the sociopolitical implications here. The iconography, the portrait of Constantine—it's all deliberate messaging. Currency as propaganda. Editor: And the metal itself, probably bronze, the materials used reflect the resources and power available at the time. Each strike a repetitive action. Curator: True, it speaks to the labor involved, the minting process. The image, even worn, asserts the emperor’s authority and divine mandate. Editor: It's humbling to think about how objects like this, crafted from base metals, were meant to shape perceptions of power. Curator: Exactly, it lets us unpack the relationship between materiality, image, and the creation of political legitimacy. Editor: A little object, but rich in layers of meaning and material history. Curator: A powerful reminder that even the smallest artifacts can hold immense historical significance.