Consecration Coin of Constantine I, Uncertain Mint 337 - 340

Curator: Up next is a Consecration Coin of Constantine I. It comes from an uncertain mint during his rule. Editor: It's remarkably weathered. I'm immediately drawn to the texture—the worn surfaces catch the light in such a way as to emphasize its age and physicality. Curator: These coins served a key function in the political theater of the late Roman Empire. Issuing them posthumously was a powerful statement of imperial legitimacy and continuity. Editor: Note how the eagle on one side is stylized almost to the point of abstraction; the artist’s simplification creates a symbolic density. Curator: Absolutely. The imagery connects Constantine to the divine and reinforces his authority, a common move in consolidating power. Editor: It makes you wonder how many hands this small object passed through and what its journey was like. Curator: A tangible link to a distant past, indeed, offering insights into the strategies of leadership and image-making. Editor: Yes, a small, humble object that still manages to speak volumes about its time.