Solidus of Theodosius II, Thessalonike 424 - 425

Curator: Look at this piece: a gold Solidus of Theodosius II, struck in Thessalonike. Its weight is a mere 4.49 grams. The figures seem remarkably solemn for something so small. Editor: The gold surface is highly reflective, almost obscuring the images. The coin seems to emphasize a direct lineage of power, likely reinforcing imperial authority through its imagery. Curator: Indeed. The depictions and inscriptions carry significant weight. The emperor is shown holding symbols of power, legitimizing his rule through divine mandate. Editor: But who decided what those symbols should be? And who was excluded in this representation of power? This coin tells as much about political realities as it does about religious belief. Curator: Consider the repetition of iconographic elements—the cross, the emperor’s crown—they're designed for recognition and reverence. These symbols served as immediate visual cues. Editor: Symbols that simultaneously enforced social hierarchies. The coin might feel distant to us now, but its effect on people's lives then would have been very real. Curator: It makes you wonder how something so small could carry such weight in its time. Editor: Power always finds a way to condense itself, doesn’t it?