Follis of Constantine I, Cyzicus 331 - 334

Editor: This is a Follis of Constantine I from Cyzicus, located at the Harvard Art Museums. The coin is small, but the imagery feels powerful. What can you tell me about the iconography at play here? Curator: Notice how Constantine's portrait adopts the visual language of divinity – the diadem, the gaze directed beyond the earthly realm. But on the reverse, the wolf and twins evoke Rome’s mythic origins, a deliberate invocation of tradition. What tensions do you observe between these symbols? Editor: I see a contrast between his personal power and the power of Rome, maybe? Curator: Precisely. It’s a fascinating dance. The coin is not just currency, it's a carefully crafted message about power, legacy, and the negotiation of tradition and transformation. Editor: That really shifts how I see the object. Thanks! Curator: It speaks volumes, doesn't it? The past whispers through these carefully chosen images.