Bronze Radiate Fraction of Constantius Chlorus, Cyzicus 295 - 299

Curator: Here we have a bronze radiate fraction coin from Cyzicus, featuring Constantius Chlorus, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's remarkable, isn't it? Immediately, I'm struck by its weathered surface, hinting at the countless hands it must have passed through, the stories it could tell. Curator: Absolutely. Coins like these were crucial in understanding the Roman Empire's visual propaganda, showcasing imperial power through portraiture and symbolic imagery, widely distributed among the populace. Editor: And what does it mean to see this tiny, almost insignificant object now displayed in such a powerful institution? It provokes thoughts about who gets remembered and how power dynamics can echo across millennia. Curator: Indeed. The journey of this coin, from its original economic and political function to its current status as a museum artifact, opens a fascinating perspective on how we assign value and construct narratives around objects. Editor: Ultimately, it reminds us that history is etched not just in grand monuments but also in these humble, everyday artifacts.