Coin of Justinian I c. 527 - 538

Editor: Here we have a coin minted during the reign of Justinian I. Its worn metal surface and diminutive size give it an intimate feel. What strikes you about its composition? Curator: The coin presents a study in relief. Note how the artist uses incised lines and raised surfaces to define both the imperial portrait and the symbolic motifs. Editor: Are those stars? Curator: Indeed. Their placement flanking the central 'I' creates a balanced, almost symmetrical composition. One might analyze this arrangement through a structuralist lens, examining its binary oppositions and underlying patterns. Editor: So, the arrangement itself carries meaning. Curator: Precisely. The form and its elements, such as the stars, contribute to the coin's message, independent of the historical context. The arrangement invites us to decode the visual language. Editor: That's a new way of thinking about the coin for me. Thanks!