Coin of Justinian I c. 556 - 557

Editor: Here we have a coin of Justinian I, residing in the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small bronze piece, and you can see wear and tear from use. What strikes me is how this everyday object conveys power. What do you see in it? Curator: I see the hands that mined the copper, the workshops where it was cast. Consider the social context. Coinage facilitated trade, yes, but also taxation and control. This wasn't just money; it was a tool of governance, influencing the lives of everyday people. Editor: So it’s not just about the emperor’s image, but about the systems of labor and control behind it? Curator: Precisely. The coin embodies the material realities of the Byzantine Empire. It's a tangible link to the economic and social structures of the time. Editor: I never considered the coin's materiality in that much detail. It adds a new layer to its significance.