Coin (AE3) of Crispus, Trier (Treves) 317 - 318

Curator: This is a coin of Crispus, minted in Trier. Look at the patinated bronze. It evokes a sense of history held in your hand. Editor: It feels like a fragment—a piece of something much larger lost to time. And, of course, money, power, and the stories it tells about the subjugated. Curator: Absolutely. Crispus, Caesar of Rome, is seen in profile, radiating power. On the reverse, we see the figure of Sol, Roman sun god. Editor: Sol's presence, that radiant crown, projects an image of imperial authority, divine right, and, frankly, propagandistic manipulation of cultural symbols. Curator: Perhaps, but doesn't the coin also stand as a testament to cultural memory? Sol, here, is not just about power but also enduring symbolism. Editor: I think we can read its enduring symbolism to reveal something very intentional about its initial political uses. Curator: A fascinating intersection of economics, power, and iconography. Editor: It really does make you wonder about the stories these objects carry.