Bronze coin of Licinius I, Nicomedia 321 - 324

Curator: This is a bronze coin of Licinius I, minted in Nicomedia. Editor: It feels worn, almost softened by time. The low relief makes the images seem to emerge from the metal itself. Curator: Exactly. Consider the process—the striking of the die, the circulation through society, the very handling of this object. It speaks to the economy and administration of the Roman Empire, and its long-term use value. Editor: And the power of imagery. Licinius used coins like this to broadcast his authority, depicting himself with the symbols of the state and celebrating military victories. It's propaganda on a very intimate scale. Curator: Indeed, coins were tools in the theater of power. The materiality of the bronze itself, its weight and presence, reinforce that message. Editor: Looking at it now, centuries later, it reminds us that even small, functional objects can carry immense political weight. Curator: A fascinating artifact, really.