Coin of Michael III c. 842 - 867

Editor: This is a coin of Michael III, weighing just over 3 grams. It looks incredibly worn. What can you tell me about this humble object? Curator: This coin isn't just currency; it's a material embodiment of Byzantine power and ideology. Michael III’s reign was tumultuous. The imagery, even on a small coin, was carefully designed to legitimize his rule. Editor: How so? Curator: Consider the cross. What does its prominence signify in relation to political power at the time? This wasn't just about religious piety. It was about the intertwining of the church and state, justifying imperial authority through divine right. Editor: I see. So, it's a propaganda piece in miniature. Curator: Precisely. And its survival speaks to the enduring nature of power structures, even as individual rulers rise and fall. We can see how faith, power and identity are forever intertwined.