Coin of Constantine I, Arelate (Arles) c. 313 - 315

Editor: This is a copper coin of Constantine I, minted in Arelate, now Arles. Its worn surface speaks volumes. What symbolic echoes do you hear in its images? Curator: Ah, yes. See how the figure on the reverse, likely a representation of Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun, holds a globe? Consider that symbol's journey. Originally an emblem of imperial power and divine favour, it later morphed into a Christian symbol. Editor: So, even pre-Christian symbols could be reinterpreted? Curator: Precisely. Constantine, in his shrewdness, adopted symbols that resonated across pagan and Christian beliefs. Power visualized, bridging old faiths and new political realities. What lingering impressions does this coin leave with you? Editor: It reminds me that images never truly die; they simply transform, accumulating layers of meaning. Curator: Indeed. A potent reminder of how images shape our understanding of the past and our place in its continuum.