Coin of Justinian I c. 539 - 540

Curator: Here we have a coin of Justinian I, which currently resides at the Harvard Art Museums. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It feels weighty, doesn't it? I mean not literally, but metaphorically. It's a small object absolutely bursting with power and history. Curator: Indeed. This coin, beyond being a monetary object, acts as propaganda. The portrait reinforces Justinian's legitimacy and divine favor. The imagery conveys very specific messages about the Emperor's reign. Editor: You can almost feel the centuries pressing down on it. It's like holding a tiny, tarnished mirror reflecting all that ambition and faith. Curator: Precisely. Coins like these circulated widely, disseminating the emperor's image and solidifying his authority throughout the Byzantine Empire. Editor: It really makes you wonder about the countless hands this little piece has passed through. Curator: Exactly, and those hands remind us of the profound intersection between art, power, and society. Editor: It is amazing how much intention and history a coin can hold.