Coin of Justin II c. 571 - 572

Editor: This is the Coin of Justin II, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s incredible to consider this small coin as a cultural artifact. What do you make of it? Curator: Well, it's potent in its symbolism. The Chi-Rho, a powerful emblem for early Christians, instantly roots us in that time. Consider how this symbol, and the figures of Justin and Sophia, served not just as currency but as a constant reminder of the Emperor's divine right and the protection of the Church. Editor: So, the coin becomes more than just a means of exchange? Curator: Precisely. It’s a miniature billboard broadcasting power, faith, and legitimacy. The weight of that, literally and figuratively, shaped the Byzantine world. What do you take away from that interplay of image and authority? Editor: I see it now, the coin is a vessel of complex meaning, far beyond its monetary value.