Coin of Tiberius II c. 580 - 581

Curator: Isn't it wild to think that this small thing, a coin minted by Tiberius II, once held real power? Editor: It's aged beautifully. It feels weighty, not just in mass, but in history. Curator: This coin, now part of the Harvard Art Museums, served as both currency and propaganda in its time. It's a statement of imperial authority and economic control. Editor: Absolutely. The portrait of Tiberius is not just a representation; it is an assertion of power. But what does it mean for a leader’s image to circulate so widely and become so commonplace? Curator: The coin flattens and distributes that image, putting the emperor in everyone's pocket. But there's also this tension between the promise of value and the fact that it's a leader’s face. A leader can be toppled, but value persists. Editor: That tension underscores the complexities of power then, as it does now. It also serves as a potent reminder of how identities get shaped and circulated. Curator: Right, this isn’t just an ancient object; it is a mirror reflecting our own relationships with power and representation. Editor: Every artifact holds a story. Sometimes it is a reflection of ourselves.