Follis of Diocletian, Thessalonica 302 - 303

Editor: Here we have a Follis of Diocletian from Thessalonica. It’s small, of course, being a coin, and worn with age. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, this coin embodies the power dynamics of the Roman Empire, reflecting Diocletian's efforts to stabilize the economy through currency reform. How do you think this coinage visually reinforces or challenges existing hierarchies? Editor: I guess it reinforces them, with his portrait right there! But that makes me think, who *wasn't* represented? Curator: Exactly! Consider the voices absent from this representation: the enslaved, women, and marginalized communities. It highlights the selectivity of historical narratives and invites us to question whose stories are told, and whose are silenced. Editor: That’s a great point; I hadn’t thought of it that way. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely! It’s important to remember that even something as small as a coin can hold a powerful political message.