Coin (AE4) of Arcadius, Antioch c. 383 - 386

Editor: Here we have the Coin (AE4) of Arcadius, from Antioch. It’s weighty despite its small size, a tangible link to the past. How do you approach interpreting something so utilitarian? Curator: Its materiality is key. Bronze, a readily available metal, speaks to widespread production. Consider the labor involved – mining, smelting, striking. This wasn't high art, but mass-produced currency, reflecting the economic structure and imperial reach of the late Roman Empire. Editor: So, its value lies less in artistic skill and more in what it represents materially? Curator: Precisely. The coin's existence and distribution reveal much about the society that produced and consumed it. The question is, what can we learn from examining its process and usage? Editor: It’s fascinating to think of it as a record of labor and consumption, not just of power. Curator: Indeed. It shifts our focus from aesthetic appreciation to social and economic understanding.