Solidus of Theodosius II, Thessalonike 424 - 425

Editor: Here we have a Solidus of Theodosius II. It's quite small, and the gold is worn, but the image is still powerful. What can you tell us about this piece? Curator: What interests me most is the labor involved in producing coinage like this. Consider the mining, the refining of the gold, the creation of the dies, and the striking of the coins themselves. These processes reveal a complex economic and social network. Editor: That’s a really interesting perspective. It's easy to forget the human effort behind something so small. Curator: Exactly. This coin isn't just an image of power; it’s a product of power. Thinking about this changes our understanding of its value, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. I never thought about it that way before.