Coin (AE3) of Arcadius, Constantinople? (CONS1) 401 - 403

Curator: Here we have a bronze coin, believed to be from the reign of Arcadius, around the late 4th century, possibly minted in Constantinople. Editor: It feels intensely private, doesn't it? A whisper of power worn smooth by time and touch. What stories it could tell! Curator: Indeed! This humble coin speaks volumes about the economic and political structures of the late Roman Empire, reflecting Arcadius’ image and claim to authority. Editor: A claim often contested, I might add! Arcadius' reign was marked by the growing influence of court eunuchs and barbarian generals. This coin, then, represents a fragile, contested power. It makes me think of whose hands exchanged it, in what transactions, what did it buy? Curator: So, each scratch is a tiny echo of those lives lived, fortunes made and lost. Editor: Precisely! It reminds us that power, like this coin, is always in circulation. Curator: A fitting reminder. Editor: Absolutely, and a potent one.