Follis of Diocletian, Trier 303 - 305

Curator: This is a follis of Diocletian, struck in Trier. Notice its bronze composition, weighing in at just over 10 grams. Editor: It feels almost ghostly, this little coin. The images are worn, but you can still sense the power it once represented. Curator: Absolutely. These coins were tools, instruments of power and control. Consider the labor invested in its extraction, production and distribution. Editor: And the messaging. Each coin put the Emperor’s image and authority directly into the hands of the people. It’s a political statement, mass-produced. Curator: Precisely. Even the degradation of the metal speaks volumes about the economics of the era. What survives really tells the tale of its use and misuse. Editor: It's fascinating how such a humble object can open up so many avenues into understanding the culture and power structures of its time.