Follis of Constantine I, Trier c. 316

Curator: This is a Follis of Constantine I, minted in Trier. What's your first impression? Editor: Worn, ancient… and yet there's something undeniably powerful about it, seeing a ruler's image deliberately circulated as a form of soft power. Curator: Exactly! The production of these coins, using bronze, was carefully managed to portray Constantine in a specific light, legitimizing his rule through mass production and distribution. Editor: It reminds us that even something as seemingly mundane as currency served as a propaganda tool, reinforcing imperial ideologies. What social impact! Curator: Indeed. It reflects how those in power shaped narratives and cemented their legacies. Editor: It also reveals a bit about the economy and the control of resources necessary to produce such a vast quantity of currency. Fascinating. Curator: Yes, it’s a valuable material witness to the past. Editor: Reflecting on this piece, it's interesting to consider how the legacy of power persists in everyday objects. Curator: A tangible link to a distant era, still resonating through its materiality.