Anonymous City Commemorative, Antioch c. 335 - 337

Editor: This is the Anonymous City Commemorative from Antioch, made during Constantine I's reign. It’s a small bronze coin, and I’m struck by how worn it is, evidence of its circulation. What do you make of this piece? Curator: For me, it's about the labor and materials. Bronze, a common metal, democratized image production. How many hands did it pass through? Who mined the copper, smelted it, and struck the die? These questions ground the coin in a network of making and exchange. Editor: That’s fascinating; I hadn’t considered the social aspect of its production before. Curator: And the act of commemoration through mass production – it collapses high art with everyday utility, challenging our notions of artistic value. This coin is a powerful document of process and consumption. Editor: I see it now – it’s less about imperial power and more about the systems that sustained it. Thank you!