AE Constantius Caesar 

Curator: There's a hushed reverence in looking at this small coin. It’s titled "AE Constantius Caesar" and it resides in the Harvard Art Museums. It's attributed to Constantius I Chlorus. Editor: You know, I see this little disc, worn smooth by time and touch, and I instantly feel connected to all the hands it must have passed through. Curator: Absolutely, and it’s fascinating to think of coins as instruments of propaganda. This one, surely, aimed to solidify Constantius's image, even with its diminutive size. Editor: To imagine the weight of an empire resting, symbolically, in the palm of one’s hand... Does it make you wonder about the value of power, then and now? Curator: It does indeed. The politics of imagery, even on something as small as this, played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of leadership and authority. Editor: I suppose it’s a reminder that every mark, every line, carries an echo of a story, of intentions, of a world we can only begin to grasp. Curator: A tangible, if tiny, piece of history, hinting at the grand narrative. Editor: Exactly. I’ll be contemplating this humble artifact for quite some time.