Coin of Constantius Gallus, Alexandria 351 - 355

Curator: This coin, depicting Constantius Gallus from Alexandria, is a fascinating relic of power and authority. It weighs just over 4 grams. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the wear and corrosion; it speaks to a long history of circulation and the material's vulnerability to time. Curator: Indeed, the copper alloy reveals the economic structures of the time, mass production allowing for widespread distribution of imperial imagery. Editor: It's more than just imagery; it's propaganda. Gallus's portrait and the imagery on the reverse would have been carefully chosen to project an image of strength, legitimacy, and control in a politically charged era. Curator: And the act of minting itself—the labor, the resources—it's a direct assertion of imperial power over production and distribution. Editor: Absolutely. And given Gallus's eventual execution, this object becomes a poignant reminder of the fragility of power, frozen in a moment of attempted self-preservation. Curator: Looking at it now, I think of all the hands it passed through, the transactions it facilitated, all tied to the Roman state. Editor: It’s a potent object, embodying the convergence of politics, labor, and identity.