Solildus of Valentinian II, Constantinople c. 383 - 388

Curator: Here we have a solidus of Valentinian II, struck in Constantinople. Editor: Wow, it's like holding a tiny, golden sun. I love how the light bounces off the raised surfaces. Curator: Observe the obverse: it presents a portrait of Valentinian, while the reverse depicts a seated figure, likely Roma or Constantinopolis. Editor: The incised details are exquisite, considering its size. It's easy to imagine the weight this little coin carried, literally and figuratively, as a symbol of power. Curator: Indeed. Its visual rhetoric speaks volumes about imperial authority through carefully codified imagery. Editor: Looking at it, I am reminded that every coin tells a story, not just of trade and economy but also of lives, reigns, and the rise and fall of empires. It's pretty amazing, isn’t it?