Coin of Justinian I c. 527 - 538

Editor: Here we have a bronze coin of Justinian I from the Harvard Art Museums. It is quite small, yet so much history seems embedded in it. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This coin isn't just currency, it's propaganda, a deliberate construction of power. Justinian I used his image to project authority, divinity even. Look at the details – what symbols do you notice? Editor: Well, the figure on the front seems to be wearing some kind of crown or halo? Curator: Exactly! It's a visual assertion of his divine right to rule, a way to legitimize his reign and suppress dissent. Consider the social implications – how did the common person receive this imagery? Editor: It’s interesting to think about how something so small could carry so much weight. Curator: Indeed, and that weight shaped an empire.