Coin (AE2) of Constans, Alexandria 348 - 350

Editor: Here we have an artifact, a coin of Constans, originating from Alexandria. The patina gives it a lovely, almost dreamlike quality. What do you see when you look at this little window into the past? Curator: Well, it whispers stories, doesn't it? The wear on the metal, each tiny scratch, is a testament to hands long gone. I see power, of course, in Constans' profile, but also fragility – the empire wouldn't last forever, would it? The figures on the reverse, perhaps soldiers, seem a little less grand when you consider the whole picture. What do you make of the figures on the reverse? Editor: I hadn't really considered them as individuals within a much grander narrative. Thanks for that. Curator: Art makes for great conversation, doesn't it?