Two-thirds Miliaresion of Constantine X, Constantinople c. 11th century

Curator: This is a Two-thirds Miliaresion of Constantine X, a Byzantine coin housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like a well-worn worry stone, doesn't it? The silvered surfaces seem muted, whispering of touch and time. Curator: These coins served as powerful symbols of imperial authority and economic control. Imagine how widely this image of Constantine X might have circulated. Editor: Yet, now it's fragmented, a shadow of its former self. The missing pieces somehow amplify its story—lost empires, fortunes spent, histories erased and then refound. Curator: Absolutely. Its state of preservation speaks volumes about the Byzantine Empire's long and complex history, including trade routes and political power. Editor: It’s funny, really. Something created to project power now evokes a sense of fragility. Curator: Indeed, and studying it provides unique insight into that dynamic. Editor: I'm left pondering about what hands have held this very coin.