Solidus of Constantius II, Aquileia 352 - 355

Curator: This is a solidus of Constantius II, weighing in at 4.42 grams, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a cool, austere beauty. Knowing it’s gold, though – that warms it up for me. Curator: Absolutely. The production and circulation of these coins underpinned imperial power. Think of the workshops involved, the trade routes... Editor: I see that profile and I wonder, was he really like that? All stern brow and pursed lips? Maybe he had a sense of humor! Curator: The imagery was deliberately crafted, a tool to project authority and legitimize rule in a vast empire. Editor: It's odd to think something so small could hold so much weight, not just monetary, but symbolic. A tiny king. Curator: Exactly. Material culture offers unique insights into historical forces. Editor: I guess even rulers get reduced to pocket change. I'll think about labor next time I find a coin.