Follis of Maximinus II, Alexandria 313

Editor: This is a Follis of Maximinus II from Alexandria. The artist is Maximinus Daia and it is located at the Harvard Art Museums. The green patina really struck me. What story does its materiality tell? Curator: Consider the coin's original function. It was a tool of economic and social control. Mass production using specific metals reinforced imperial authority through standardized imagery and value. Editor: So, the coin's material composition and distribution were as important as its design? Curator: Absolutely. The wear, corrosion, and even the green patina demonstrate the material's interaction with its environment, reflecting circulation and its social life. What does that say about the power of this object? Editor: I see it now. Its creation, distribution, and degradation are all intertwined with the workings of power and economy. Thanks!