Coin of Justinian I c. 542 - 543

Curator: Up next we have a bronze coin, created under the authority, you might say the artistic direction, of Justinian I. It's a weighty thing at just over 20 grams. Editor: It has such a worn, serious beauty—the kind of object that makes you reflect on the passage of time and the weight of history. Curator: Absolutely, and this was far more than just currency. It's a statement of power, right? The emperor's portrait, the inscriptions, they're all carefully designed to project an image of strength and divine authority. Editor: Divine authority built on… well, conquest and codified law, right? Justinian's reign was a period of significant expansion, but also intense social control, reflected here, perhaps, in the unsmiling face. Curator: Maybe. Or it could just be a stylistic convention. But, okay, so what does the coin say about our current relationship to power? Editor: Well, it reminds us that power is always mediated, always constructed, and that even something as mundane as a coin can be a potent tool of ideology. It also reminds me of the coins we don't carry anymore and the new world of digital currency! Curator: Fair enough. For me, I just imagine the hands it passed through, the stories it could tell. Editor: Exactly—it's a powerful conversation piece.