Follis of Licinius I, Thessalonica 320

Curator: Immediately, I perceive an object burdened by time—the textures almost screaming its antiquity. Editor: Indeed. What we're looking at is a Follis of Licinius I, struck in Thessalonica. It's a small coin, 2.82 grams in weight, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: Note the portrait: the stark profile on one face and the symbolism on the other, each element existing in a tense, almost aggressive, visual balance. Editor: It's a fascinating glimpse into the economy and political messaging of the Roman Empire. Coins like these were tools for disseminating imperial power and ideology. Curator: Precisely! The composition, even in its worn state, retains its semiotic power, resonating across millennia. Editor: Well, it's certainly a physical manifestation of history's grand sweep. A modest, yet compelling artifact.