Solidus of Maurice Tiberius, Constantinople c. 583 - 601

This is a gold coin, a Solidus of Maurice Tiberius, made in Constantinople. It weighs 4.43 grams. What immediately strikes you are the circular forms on either side. Each surface displays a complex, almost symmetrical figuration pressed into the soft gold. On one side, the bust of a figure adorns the coin. On the other, two figures stand side by side, each holding symbolic objects. Coins such as this one were not just currency; they were also carriers of symbolic power. The images, meticulously designed, communicated messages about the emperor's authority and the empire's wealth. These visual elements form a semiotic system, using symbols and figures to convey ideologies and political messages. Consider the formal qualities of the lines and shapes. The lines create an interplay of light and shadow, accentuating the symbolic content. The coin serves as both an economic tool and a cultural artifact, encapsulating complex ideas about power, identity, and representation within its small, golden form.