Coin of Justinian I c. 538 - 542

Curator: This is a coin of Justinian I, an artifact held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: My first impression is how worn it looks—a tangible link to a distant, faded empire. Curator: Notice the crispness of the profiled portrait, despite the material degradation. What do you make of the deliberate circular form and the incised markings on its reverse? Editor: The portrait reinforces Justinian's role as the leader, drawing on a long tradition of deified rulers. The symbol? It speaks to the value system of the time, beyond its fiscal worth. Curator: Indeed. The coin’s design, carefully balanced, utilizes the symbolic potential of shape and figure to solidify imperial authority. Editor: It’s fascinating how such a small object encapsulates so much about power, belief, and identity. Curator: A testament to the enduring power of objects, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Absolutely.