Coin of Constans II c. 659 - 661

Curator: Here we have a gold coin of Constans II, located at the Harvard Art Museums, weighing 4.49 grams. Editor: The incised lines create a strangely moving, almost shimmering surface, despite the rigid poses of the figures depicted. Curator: Indeed, the iconography, though stylized, reveals much about Byzantine imperial power and its close relationship with the church. The reverse depicts the emperor with his son Constantine IV. Editor: The composition of the figures, however, strikes me. The stiff frontality minimizes any sense of depth, flattening the figures into near abstraction. Curator: That's very insightful. The use of gold for coinage also served to project the emperor’s wealth and authority, influencing both internal economics and international relations. Editor: Ultimately, the coin is a fascinating study in miniature. Curator: I agree, a small object carrying immense historical weight.