Antoninianus of Diocletian, Heraclea 291

Editor: Here we have an Antoninianus of Diocletian, a small coin from Heraclea. It looks like it’s made of base metal, and seeing these two sides next to each other really emphasizes its creation through stamping and labor. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The materiality of this coin speaks volumes about Diocletian's reign. The debasement of the silver content in the antoninianus reflects the economic pressures and imperial policies of the time. What does its circulation tell us about production, trade, and control? Editor: So it's not just about the image, but how the coin itself was a product of its time, economically speaking? Curator: Precisely. The coin embodies value far beyond its face. This coin is less about art and more about the material and social processes of the Roman Empire. Editor: That's a fascinating way to look at something so small. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Considering the material and making of objects allows us to examine the society from which they come.