Follis of Constantius I, Lugdunum 303 - 305

Editor: This is a bronze follis depicting Constantius I, likely minted in Lugdunum. It feels incredibly weighty, knowing it represents power and the emperor's image. What can you tell me about the narratives embedded in this coin? Curator: Consider how this coin served as propaganda, circulating Constantius's image and authority. The visual language—his portrait, the accompanying imagery—what ideas or claims do you think it sought to legitimize about his rule in a society grappling with questions of legitimacy and succession? Editor: So it's not just currency; it's a statement of power. I hadn't considered the message it sends. Curator: Exactly. And who was that message *for*, and what anxieties was it trying to address? How does it try to negotiate identity and project power? Editor: This makes me see the coin as more than just a historical artifact. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Its value lies in understanding what this object tells us about power, representation, and anxieties of the time.