Coin of Arcadius, Constantinople c. 402

Curator: This is a bronze coin of Arcadius, minted in Constantinople. It weighs 2.30 grams. Editor: It feels heavy with history, even in this diminished state. The patinas and abrasions tell of centuries of use and handling. Curator: The materiality speaks volumes. Bronze was a readily available metal, signifying the vast economic systems sustaining the late Roman Empire. The labor involved in extracting, smelting, and striking such coins fueled a whole economy. Editor: The iconographic program is fascinating. Though worn, you can still make out the Emperor’s portrait and a figure, likely Victory, holding a standard. The symbols of power are so potent here. Curator: It's humbling to consider its original context. Each coin was a tangible link between the emperor and his subjects. Consider how it facilitated trade, how its production was tightly managed by the state. Editor: It's amazing how symbols endure, isn't it? Even in this state of decay, the coin projects the enduring aspirations of empire. Curator: Indeed, this single object encapsulates so much of the late Roman world and its material networks. Editor: A pocket-sized reminder of civilization.