Coin of Constans

Curator: Here we have a "Coin of Constans," attributed to Constans I himself and held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's so worn, almost like a ghost of a coin, but still regal somehow. Curator: The patinated surface obscures the original details, but you can still discern the emperor's profile and perhaps some inscription. Editor: I find the weight intriguing – 2.78 grams. Imagine the power held in something so small, enough to buy a loaf of bread or perhaps influence a decision. Curator: Indeed. These coins functioned as both currency and propaganda, disseminating the emperor's image and authority throughout the Roman Empire. Editor: It's a tactile connection to the past. Holding it, you're holding a piece of someone's everyday life. Curator: Precisely. A small object, but a powerful link to a distant era. Editor: Makes you think about what objects today will carry our stories forward, doesn't it?