Consecration Coin of Constantine I, Nicomedia 347 - 348

Editor: We're looking at a Consecration Coin of Constantine I. It’s amazing to see such a small object, yet it's packed with detail. What strikes you about the formal qualities of this coin? Curator: The bilateral symmetry is immediately apparent. Note how the obverse and reverse designs play with circular forms, containing the bust of Constantine and a symbolic representation. Editor: I see what you mean. How does the medium—the coin itself—affect your interpretation? Curator: The coin's small scale and material suggest not only a medium of exchange, but also a portable emblem of power, demanding close inspection to decode. Its circular format reinforces its self-contained, symbolic nature. Editor: That's a great point. I hadn’t considered its portability as a key feature of its design. Curator: Indeed, the interplay of form and function is crucial to its interpretation.