Coin of Justinian I c. 547 - 548

Curator: Here we have a copper coin, a follis, actually, from the time of Justinian I. The artist? None other than the emperor himself, in a way. I mean, he commissioned it! Editor: It looks so worn down! Like a little window into a past that’s been handled and carried and maybe even worried over. It’s compelling. Curator: Absolutely. The imagery is key. On one side, you see Justinian, powerful emperor, but also rendered with those haloed, saintly features. Editor: So he’s melding the earthly power with divine authority—the ultimate flex, really. And then, on the reverse, that big "M", which stood for 40 nummi, its value at the time. Even currency has symbolic weight. Curator: You're right. It's not just money; it's a statement. Each detail, even the wear and tear, tells a story about empire, belief, and daily life in that era. It’s like holding a tiny piece of history. Editor: It makes you think, doesn’t it? What will our coins say about us centuries from now?