Solidus of Valentinian I, Antioch 364 - 367

Editor: Here we have a gold Solidus of Valentinian I from Antioch. It's amazing to think about the journey of this coin, its material value representing power. What does its existence tell us about the society that produced it? Curator: Its materiality speaks volumes. Gold signifies wealth and control over resources. Where did the gold come from? Who mined it? This coin isn't just a portrait; it's a record of extraction, labor, and economic dominance. Editor: So, it's less about the image and more about the gold itself? Curator: Precisely. The image is propaganda, but the gold is the real power. Think about the networks of trade and exploitation required to create this small object. What can we learn about the means of production? Editor: That’s a completely different way of looking at it! It makes me think about value, labor, and power in a whole new way.