Consecration Coin of Constantine I, Antioch 347 - 348

Editor: Here we have a small bronze Consecration Coin of Constantine I from Antioch. It’s amazing to see the detail preserved on such a tiny, everyday object. What can you tell me about its significance? Curator: As a propaganda tool, this coin offers insights into the politics of its time. Consider how its imagery portrays Constantine, shaping public perception of his reign. What message do you think the eagle on the reverse side conveys? Editor: Power, maybe? Or divine authority? Curator: Precisely! And think about who controlled the minting of these coins and how their distribution reinforced the emperor's control over the Roman Empire's economy and ideology. Editor: It's fascinating to think about how much power could be packed into such a small object. I never thought about coins in this way before. Curator: Seeing art as a tool that shapes public opinion certainly makes you think differently.