Coin (AE3) of Constantine I, Cyzicus 325 - 326

Curator: This is a coin from Cyzicus featuring Constantine I. Its humble bronze form carries significant weight. The minting and circulation of coinage was a very deliberate imperial strategy. Editor: It's remarkably corroded. The textures resulting from this degradation are interesting—a kind of accidental abstract expressionism. Curator: Indeed. The portrait on one side is a statement of power and authority—an intentional projection of imperial identity. The other side, some believe it depicts the city gates. Editor: The linearity in the reverse image is quite striking, the texture seems to evoke an almost brutalist aesthetic. Curator: Precisely! The city gate as a symbol—protection, prosperity, control. It speaks volumes about the priorities of Constantine's reign. Editor: Seeing it this way, it's fascinating how the object's surface conveys power and impermanence. Curator: I agree. It's a potent reminder of the relationship between art, power, and legacy.