Follis of Maximian I, Aquileia c. 295 - 296

Curator: This coin, or Follis, depicts Maximian I. Note the careful detail of his profile. Editor: It has an austere quality. The oxidation gives it a pleasing, if somber, palette. Curator: Precisely. As a mass-produced object, it highlights the economic power of the Roman Empire and the means by which imperial authority was circulated. Editor: The use of copper alloy creates a lasting artifact, but the wear reveals the passage of time. The figure of Maximian, though, is rendered to inspire confidence. Curator: It is a testament to the labor involved in extracting the ore, refining the metal, and striking the coins themselves. Editor: Ultimately, this object provides a glimpse into a ruler's image as distributed to the masses. Curator: A symbol of material and political realities. Editor: And a lasting formal statement of Roman imperial power.