Coin of Justinian I 552 - 553

Editor: Here we have a coin, attributed to Justinian I. The wear on it speaks volumes! What strikes you most about this small, yet weighty, piece of history? Curator: This isn't just currency; it's a propaganda piece, a deliberate construction of power. Justinian's image, though faded, projects authority. But consider the brutal reality of his reign: wars, plagues, social upheaval. Does this coin mask that violence, or perpetuate it through idealized imagery? Editor: That's a pretty harsh assessment for just a coin, right? Curator: Is it? Power rarely presents itself honestly. This coin circulated amongst people facing immense hardships, effectively normalizing Justinian's rule regardless of its true impact. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. It is more than just pocket change. Curator: Exactly. Objects like this embody complex social and political dynamics.