Follis of Constantine I, London

Editor: This bronze follis, struck in London during the reign of Constantine I, appears remarkably humble for an object representing imperial power. Curator: Indeed, its current state evokes a sense of temporality. The encrustations and wear speak volumes about its journey through history, its materiality fundamentally transformed by time. Editor: Considering its function as currency, it highlights how the Roman Empire was made materially accessible. Curator: Precisely. Note the iconographic program: the laureate head of Constantine, the divine personification. The arrangement signifies imperial authority through established visual language. Editor: It’s compelling how this small object embodies the vast economic and social networks of the Roman Empire. Curator: It's a microcosm of power, isn't it? A potent symbol rendered in modest materials, transformed by time. Editor: Yes, it truly makes you consider what hands it passed through, the labor, the value it represented, and the power it symbolized.