Half follis of Justin II from Kyzikos c. 574 - 575

Editor: This is a half follis of Justin II from Kyzikos, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Its worn surface suggests it has passed through many hands. What can we learn from it? Curator: The very act of minting—the labor, the materials like bronze, and the control over its distribution—speaks to the emperor's power. And consider the iconography; whose image is privileged, and what does its repetitive circulation tell us about the Byzantine economy? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn’t thought about the implications of its production and distribution. Curator: Thinking about the tangible value and exchange of this coin helps us understand its role in a broader socio-economic landscape. Editor: Thanks, that's a really insightful perspective.