Coin of Arcadius, Antioch c. 395 - 401

Curator: Here we have a bronze coin of Arcadius, minted in Antioch, that weighs under 3 grams. Editor: It's remarkable how much information is communicated on such a tiny object, even after centuries of wear. There's a ghostly quality to the figures. Curator: Indeed. Coins like this were less about pure monetary value, and more about disseminating imagery of power and imperial ideology. This served to reinforce the emperor's divine right to rule. Editor: It's fascinating how even something as simple as money, in its materiality, becomes a tool for social control and the propagation of a dominant narrative. Who gets represented, and how, is always political. Curator: Absolutely. It's a potent reminder of how art functions within broader power structures. Editor: Considering the legacy and impact of this artwork, I realize objects can be so much more than meets the eye.