Coin (AE4) of Constans, Siscia 347 - 348

Curator: This is a coin, or AE4, of Constans, crafted in Siscia. Its patinated surface gives it such presence. Editor: Yes, the worn surface speaks volumes. It makes me think about the precarity of power and the hands it's passed through. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the bronze itself, the labour of its mining and refinement, and the minting process. Each coin was a unit in a vast system of production. Editor: And each one also a tool of propaganda, circulating images of imperial power. How many people saw this ruler's face and felt connected to a regime? Curator: Exactly, from its material composition to its cultural function, it offers a rich field for investigation. Editor: Indeed, this single object embodies complex social and economic narratives. Curator: I will never see a coin the same way again. Editor: Me neither. This humble coin reveals powerful stories about identity, labor, and control.