Follis of Diocletian, Ticinum 304 - 305

Curator: This little bronze coin, known as a Follis of Diocletian, feels weighty somehow, despite its size. There's something so tactile about holding something that was once used in everyday life, centuries ago. Editor: Absolutely. These coins served as potent symbols of power, designed for mass consumption. Diocletian sought to stabilize the Roman economy, but these images also projected an image of a strong, just ruler. Curator: I love how worn down it is. The rough edges invite you to imagine who held it, what transactions it facilitated. It whispers stories of ancient marketplaces, and the daily grind. Editor: Indeed. This particular coin features the goddess Moneta holding scales, a direct appeal to ideas of justice and balanced exchange. It is a powerful message in times of economic uncertainty. Curator: Makes you wonder about the weight of that "justice" then versus now. I can feel it—the wear—a literal tracing of time. Editor: Precisely, and a reminder that even symbols intended to project stability are subject to the erosion of history, much like the social contracts they represent. Curator: A silent, ancient testament to the ever-turning wheel. Editor: It leaves one to reflect upon the cyclical nature of power and its representations across time.