Radiate Fraction of Maximian, Cyzicus 295 - 299

Editor: This is a Radiate Fraction of Maximian, Cyzicus. The artist is Maximianus I Herculius. What strikes me is how much wear and tear this small coin has endured. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This coin, though small, speaks volumes about the Roman economy and the labor involved in its production. Consider the mining of the metal, the skills of the die-cutters, and the sheer number of these coins needed to facilitate trade. How does its materiality connect to the vast Roman empire? Editor: That's a fascinating perspective! It's easy to overlook the labor behind something so seemingly insignificant. I’ll definitely look at coins differently now. Curator: Indeed. And by examining the coin's wear, we see not just age, but its participation in countless transactions, linking individual lives to the larger economic structure.