Coin of Tiberius II c. 579 - 582

Editor: Here we have a coin, a "Coin of Tiberius II" if you will, weighing around 12 grams, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It has such an archaic aesthetic. What can you tell me about this coin? Curator: Well, coins like this were not just currency, but powerful tools of imperial propaganda. Consider the portrait of Tiberius; how does its formal presentation reinforce his authority? Editor: I see what you mean. It feels more like a symbol of power than just money. How would its distribution have affected the perception of the emperor? Curator: Precisely. Coins circulated widely, bringing the emperor's image and message into everyday life. Did this accessibility enhance or diminish the emperor's mystique? Editor: Interesting! I never considered how something so small could carry such weight in shaping public opinion. Thanks for the insight.