Coin of Constans II c. 651 - 658

Curator: Before us, we have a coin of Constans II, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s so small, and yet it looks like it holds centuries of stories in its worn surface. Curator: It's fascinating to consider this coin within the context of Byzantine power structures. Constans II ruled during a time of immense social and political upheaval. Editor: The details, though faded, reveal an intriguing symmetry. Notice the arrangement of figures and symbols – deliberate, almost architectural in their balance. Curator: The coin served as both currency and propaganda. It offers insight into how Constans II wished to be perceived by his subjects and by the wider world. Editor: The material itself, the very substance of the coin, speaks to an era of empire and trade. It's a tangible link to the past. Curator: Indeed, and understanding the circulation of this coin can tell us much about the economic and social networks of the time. Editor: Yes, I agree, the object has layers of complexity far beyond its small size and weight.