Siliqua of Valentinian II, Trier 388 - 392

Editor: This is a silver coin, a Siliqua of Valentinian II, and given its wear, I wonder how it reflects the emperor's power. What can you tell me about the role of this coin in late antiquity? Curator: Coins were primary propaganda tools. Consider how Valentinian II, ruling a fractured empire, used this small object to project authority and stability. The imagery, even in its diminished state, conveyed power. Editor: So, the very act of minting and circulating this coin was a political statement? Curator: Precisely. It's a declaration of control and a visual assertion of imperial presence within a contested landscape. The state controls the imagery in circulation, right down to its metallic weight. Editor: That gives me a completely new perspective on something as simple as a coin. Curator: It’s a reminder that even the smallest objects can carry enormous political and social weight.