Follis of Constantine I, Rome 314 - 315

Curator: This is a Follis of Constantine I, a bronze coin from Rome. Editor: It looks so worn, yet holds a grand weight. I can immediately sense the labor involved in its creation, the materiality of bronze telling tales of trade and power. Curator: Yes, and consider the socio-political landscape that produced this object. Constantine I, a figure who legalized Christianity and restructured the Empire—his image on currency is a powerful statement. Editor: Precisely. The coin's very existence speaks to the processes of minting, distribution, and ultimately, consumption within Roman society. We must acknowledge the hands that shaped it and the economic system it supported. Curator: Absolutely, and through the lens of identity, it's compelling to examine how the image of Constantine, as ruler and later as a saint, shaped perceptions of leadership and authority. Editor: It shows so much about labor, and the role of materials in solidifying a ruler's image! Curator: Indeed, both the symbolic and physical aspects intertwine to give us a window into a complex past. Editor: It brings a new appreciation for art's value as a historical and cultural object.