Coin of Arcadius, Constantinople 388 - 392

Editor: This is a coin of Arcadius from Constantinople. The material is fascinating; it feels like holding history. What does its physicality suggest to you? Curator: The coin's material tells a story of extraction, labor, and circulation. Who mined the metal? What were the working conditions? These are vital questions. Its presence speaks volumes about resource control and economic power. Editor: I see. So, its value isn't just monetary, but a record of those processes? Curator: Exactly. Consider the imprints, the wear, the standardization. Mass production even then! The coin embodies material culture, class structures, and, ultimately, the mechanisms of power. Editor: That really changes how I see it. It's not just a portrait; it's a document of a complex system. Curator: Indeed. It’s a tangible link to the past and a mirror reflecting our own systems of production and consumption.