Coin (AE4) of Constantine I, Heraclea 347 - 348

Editor: Here we have an AE4 coin of Constantine I from Heraclea. Looking at it, I feel a sense of connection to a distant past, yet it also seems worn and humble. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This coin offers a potent reminder of the power structures of the Roman Empire, and the ways in which rulers sought to legitimize their authority. Consider how the image of Constantine, even in miniature, served as a form of propaganda. How might this coin have functioned in the daily lives of people living under Roman rule? Editor: So, beyond its monetary value, it was a constant assertion of power. Curator: Precisely. Currency, even then, was a form of communication. And today, it is still a lens through which we can examine the complex interplay of power, representation, and identity in history. Editor: I never thought a coin could be so revealing. Curator: Every artifact, no matter how small, holds a multitude of stories waiting to be uncovered.