Coin of Constantine VII c. 920 - 931

Curator: This is a coin of Constantine VII, located at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a modest 5.41 grams. What’s your impression? Editor: It feels weighty, almost like a portal. All that history pressed into this small, corroded surface—you can sense the hands it's passed through. Curator: The coin represents the Byzantine economy. The production process, from the mining of materials to the striking of the image, speaks to the empire's infrastructure. Editor: Right, the empire’s grip, solidified in bronze. I wonder what stories this specific coin could tell, if only it could talk. Curator: Absolutely. It is fascinating to think of it in circulation, changing hands. Editor: It's humble, yet evokes something grand. Curator: Indeed, thank you.