Follis (AE3) of Fausta, Ticinum 326

Curator: This is a Follis, a bronze coin, minted in Ticinum and bearing the image of Fausta, wife of Constantine the Great. Editor: The worn texture and muted coloration give it an austere feel, as if time itself has settled into its very material structure. Curator: Absolutely, its age is part of its story. The image of Fausta, with her elaborate hairstyle, speaks of imperial power and the projection of dynasty. Editor: The composition, with the portrait dominating one side and a figure of a goddess on the other, creates a visual binary. Curator: Indeed. This coin acted as a potent symbol, an artifact imbued with economic and symbolic weight—a small object carrying an empire's identity. Editor: Seeing the wear, I imagine all the hands this passed through, each touch subtly altering its surface. Curator: It is a tactile link to the past, isn't it? Editor: Yes, a fascinating example of how simple forms can contain layers of meaning.