Coin of Maurice Tiberius, Numidia 582 - 602

This coin of Maurice Tiberius, likely made in Numidia, is crafted from bronze, a common material for currency in the late Roman and early Byzantine periods. The process of making coins like this involved skilled metalworking, from smelting the ore to die-striking each individual piece. Consider the inherent qualities of the metal: its weight, color, and malleability. These characteristics would have been well-understood by the craftsmen who produced the coin. The process of striking, where the metal is pressed between two dies, is particularly important. This is how the images of the emperor and other symbols were transferred onto the surface. The coin embodies a convergence of technology, labor, and power. The images on its surface conveyed not just political authority but also economic control, reinforcing the social order. The coin is an artifact of both daily life and imperial ambition. Its existence challenges the distinction between craft and fine art, reminding us of the artistry inherent in even the most utilitarian of objects.