Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 587 - 588

This coin of Maurice Tiberius, crafted in antiquity, presents us with potent symbols of power and faith. On one side, we see the emperor himself, a tangible representation of earthly authority. Turn it over, and we find the Christogram, a symbol formed from the Greek letters Chi and Rho, representing Christ. The Christogram's journey through time is fascinating. Adopted by Constantine the Great, it transformed from a persecuted sect's emblem to a symbol of imperial power. Before Constantine, the cross was hidden. A secret. Afterwards, the symbol emerged into the open, used to unify and legitimise an empire. Consider its evolution: from catacomb walls to imperial banners, the Christogram's presence speaks volumes about the shifting tides of belief and power. In this coin, the convergence of imperial portrait and Christian symbol reflects the profound intertwining of spiritual and temporal authority, a dance that continues to shape our world.