Coin (AE4) of Constans 347 - 348

Editor: This is an ancient coin of Constans, made of bronze. It looks very small, yet it carries so much history. What can you tell me about it? Curator: These small coins, like miniature billboards, were tools of imperial propaganda. Constans, as emperor, needed to project power. The very act of minting, of controlling the imagery in circulation, was a statement. What do you think that statement was? Editor: That he was in charge, that his image was the one that mattered? Curator: Precisely. And think about the people who handled this coin daily – soldiers, merchants, everyday citizens. They were constantly reminded of the emperor's authority through this intimate object. This was about political messaging, mass communication on a personal scale. Editor: So, it's not just currency; it's a message. I never thought about it that way. Curator: Exactly. It reveals how even mundane objects participate in the theatre of power.