Follis of Crispus, Uncertain Mint 316 - 326

Curator: This is a Follis of Crispus from an uncertain mint. Editor: It’s patinated to a beautiful verdigris, isn't it? Small, but you can still see the wear from being held and passed around. Curator: Quite right. These coins, though small, were critical for economic and political messaging. Crispus, son of Constantine, is depicted, and the reverse shows a Roman military camp gate. Editor: I’m struck by the process, the repetitive labor of striking these coins, and how that relates to imperial control. Each one a unit of currency and a mark of the empire’s reach. Curator: Precisely! Minted to legitimize power and ensure the flow of commerce, these coins offer insight into the societal structures of the late Roman Empire. Editor: Thinking about the materiality and the labor involved really grounds the grand historical narratives we often hear. It's humbling. Curator: Indeed, a lasting, tangible remnant of a powerful history.