Follis of Maximianus, Rome 307 - 308

Editor: This is a Follis of Maximianus. It's undated, but made by Maximianus I Herculius of Rome. The wear and patina are striking. What can you tell me about its production and context? Curator: Well, think about the labor involved in minting such a coin. The extraction of the metal, the die-making, the striking process itself—these were all deliberate acts of production tied to the Roman state's economic and political power. What do you make of the imagery? Editor: I hadn't considered the labor, but I see it now. The imagery looks like a face and a building. Curator: It reflects the values the Roman empire was promoting. The building could be a Temple. These coins aren't just objects; they are tools. Consider the circulation of this coin. Each exchange embeds it further into Roman society. Editor: I'll never look at a coin the same way again. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, it's a material record of a complex past.