Follis of Licinius I, Antioch 321 - 324

Editor: This is a Follis coin of Licinius I, created in Antioch. It’s such a tangible piece of history, isn't it? It makes you wonder about all the hands it passed through. What stories do you think this little coin could tell? Curator: Ah, imagine the journeys this humble coin has undertaken. Each scratch, each bit of verdigris whispers tales of empires rising and crumbling. I see Licinius, a man grasping at power, his image stamped onto metal, a desperate bid for immortality. Editor: Immortality through currency, that's a thought! Curator: Indeed! But look closer – beyond the emperor's profile, there's a vulnerability. It’s like a shadow self, laid bare by the passage of time. What do you make of that? Editor: A shadow self... I never considered that. So, it’s not just about power, but maybe the weight of it too? Curator: Precisely. Maybe it’s a reminder that even emperors are, in the end, just fragile mortals. Editor: I’ll never look at a coin the same way again!