coin of Theodore I ? c. 1055 - 1056

Curator: We're looking at a coin attributed to Theodore I, a ruler of the Byzantine Empire. It's held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a heavy, earthy feel. I imagine holding it, feeling the weight of history, the imprint of countless transactions. Curator: The imagery, though worn, speaks of imperial power. Consider the figure depicted – likely Theodore himself – as a symbol of the state, of divine right. Editor: I'm more interested in how this coin moved through society. What were the raw materials? Who mined them? How were these images impressed? Curator: And those very images reinforce a cultural memory, a continuous lineage of leadership embodied in this tiny metal disc. Editor: A tiny disc that represents so much labor, from extraction to circulation. It makes you think about what we value, what we deem worthy of such effort. Curator: Indeed. It's a potent reminder that objects carry both symbolic and material weight. Editor: Exactly, and that tension is where we find meaning.