Coin (AE4) of Constantius II, Constantinople 333 - 335

Curator: Up next we have a small coin, specifically an AE4 of Constantius II, which resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a strange allure, doesn't it? This little bronze disc feels weighty with history; it’s a tangible link to a world so different from our own. I wonder how many hands it has passed through. Curator: Indeed, the means of production are fascinating; this coin, mass-produced for everyday transactions, now sits preserved in a museum, elevating its status. The very labor involved, the materiality of the bronze itself, speaks volumes about the economy and society of the time. Editor: It’s a strange thought; something so ubiquitous then becomes this unique artifact now. It's funny to think that this humble coin once held such power, a tiny symbol of a vast empire, now just a relic inspiring wonder. Curator: Precisely, and it's still doing its job, prompting us to reflect on labor, consumption, and ultimately, what we value. Editor: And what survives.