Two-thirds Miliaresion of Constantine X Doukas c. 11th century

Curator: Here we have a Two-thirds Miliaresion of Constantine X Doukas, a Byzantine coin currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums, weighing less than a gram. Editor: It appears to be very worn, the figure on one side almost ghostly, and the metal has a matte quality. Curator: Indeed. Notice the deliberate composition of the obverse. The central figure, Christ, is rendered with elongated proportions, emphasizing the vertical axis and spiritual transcendence. Editor: And the socio-political function is equally important. Coins such as this were instruments of imperial power, circulating the ruler’s image and authority throughout the empire. They literally embodied value. Curator: Note the careful arrangement of the inscriptions on the reverse, each letter meticulously placed to convey not just information but also a sense of order and divine right. Editor: I see the use of such small objects highlights the intersection of art, economics, and power in the Byzantine era. Curator: Precisely, it reveals how the abstract notion of rulership was made tangible, embedding ideology within the very fabric of everyday life.