Coin of Constans II c. 653 - 654

Editor: Here we have a gold coin, a Coin of Constans II, and though undated, it’s easy to think about the labor that went into minting this object. What does studying the materials tell us? Curator: The coin's gold content speaks to Byzantine trade networks. Think about the extraction, refining, and distribution – labor, skill, and control concentrated in this tiny disc. Editor: So the coin isn’t just about monetary exchange, but labor relations too? Curator: Precisely. The imagery itself, likely made with dies hammered by specialized artisans, circulated as propaganda, reinforcing imperial power. Editor: I never thought about a coin representing so much more than its face value. Curator: It's a material record of economic and ideological structures.