Coin (AE4) of Constantine I, Nicomedia 337 - 340

Curator: This is a copper coin, an AE4 of Constantine I, minted in Nicomedia. It’s part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It looks like the remnants of a dream, doesn't it? The decay and the tarnished surfaces evoke a sense of faded glory. Curator: Indeed. Its material composition and the damage it has undergone contribute to its unique visual texture and patina. The coin speaks to the passage of time. Editor: I wonder what hands it passed through, what stories it could tell if it could speak. It's heavy, not just with copper, but with history. Curator: We can analyze the iconography, the carefully designed portrait, to understand the emperor's intended image and the messages he sought to convey. Editor: Right. For me, though, it's about the mystery, the lost world that this little disc represents. A tangible link to an era long gone. Curator: Exactly. Examining the coin's form and design elements provides insight into the artistic and political strategies of the time. Editor: I suppose after all this time, it's the questions it raises, not the answers it gives, that really captivate.