Coin of Michael III c. 866 - 867

Editor: This is a coin of Michael III, a piece from the Harvard Art Museums. Seeing this worn coin, I'm struck by how history can be held in something so small. What stories do you think this coin could tell? Curator: Oh, if this little coin could talk! It whispers tales of the Byzantine Empire, of power and trade. Look closely at the figure, the details of his regalia, the weight of history pressed into metal. Editor: So, it’s more than just money then? Curator: Much more! It’s propaganda, art, a symbol of an empire’s reach… a tiny, portable message across centuries, weathered by time, yet speaking volumes. I wonder who held it last? Editor: It makes you wonder about all the things we use every day that could end up being history someday. Curator: Exactly! Each object carries a story. And sometimes, it takes a little coin to remind us of that.