Follis of Constantine I, Lugdunum (Lyons) 314 - 315

Curator: Before us is a Follis of Constantine I, minted in Lugdunum, now Lyons. It’s a small bronze coin, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It has a solemn feel, doesn't it? The patinated bronze lends a great deal of weight to this tiny object. Curator: Indeed. These coins were instruments of propaganda. The mint in Lugdunum served as a strategic point for disseminating Constantine's image and authority throughout the western Roman Empire. The material, though base, was carefully worked. Editor: And distributed en masse! These coins were everywhere, shaping public perception through everyday use. It’s fascinating how something so small could have such a widespread impact. Curator: It truly speaks to the power of material culture and the mechanisms of political messaging. Editor: A sobering thought – the echoes of empire, captured in a humble coin.