Coin (AE2) of Arcadius, Nicomedia 392 - 395

Curator: Up next is an intriguing coin, identified as an AE2 of Arcadius, minted in Nicomedia. It is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It looks incredibly worn, like it has carried a heavy history within its metal. There's something very evocative about the fading image. Curator: Indeed. Arcadius, who reigned in the Eastern Roman Empire, used coinage extensively to solidify his image and authority. Nicomedia was a key mint, strategically important. Editor: The profile, though faded, is regal. The laurel wreath speaks volumes—victory, power, divinity. It all communicates Arcadius’s intended message. Curator: Absolutely, and the public role of these coins can’t be overstated. They served as mini-billboards, projecting imperial power into everyday life, influencing public opinion. Editor: Considering its journey through time, it carries so many layers of meaning, from its creation to its discovery. What stories could it tell if it could speak? Curator: Right, it makes one consider the enduring relationship between power, representation, and the objects that circulate within a society. Editor: A tiny object, yet a portal into the past. It really shows how even the smallest artifact can carry such potent cultural weight.