Follis of Maximian, Aquileia c. 300

Editor: Here we have a Follis of Maximian, struck in Aquileia. The portrait looks so severe, and the coin itself seems worn by time. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This coin, though small, speaks volumes about power and its representation. Consider how Maximian, through this mass-produced image, sought to project authority and legitimacy across his vast, multicultural empire. What does it mean to have your identity and image circulated in this way? Editor: It's like early propaganda! Curator: Precisely! And think about the messages embedded in these images: the strength, the virility, the promise of stability. How do these coins function in the everyday lives of people under Roman rule? What stories do they tell? Editor: I never thought about coins telling stories. Thanks for broadening my perspective. Curator: And thank you for asking critical questions that encourage us to rethink the narratives these objects carry.