Coin of Constantine VII c. 945 - 950

Editor: So this is a coin of Constantine VII, and it's at the Harvard Art Museums. It's incredibly small, but I feel like it holds so much history! What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, these small objects can be incredibly potent. Consider this: what symbols were important enough to be placed on currency? What did they want to communicate about their power and identity? Editor: That's interesting. It makes me wonder about the impact this tiny object had back then. Curator: Indeed. Visual symbols were carefully chosen to project authority and legitimacy, playing a crucial role in shaping perception and reinforcing cultural memory. Think about how this resonates even today with our own currency. Editor: That's true! It’s amazing to think about how something so small could carry so much weight. Curator: It certainly does put things into perspective. We are constantly surrounded by symbols with deep cultural significance.