Coin of Justin II c. 565 - 578

Curator: This coin, bearing the likeness of Justin II, whispers tales of power and trade from its place in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's remarkable how such a small object could signify so much. I immediately think of its tangible presence and the process by which it came into being. Curator: Indeed, coins like this served as powerful propaganda tools. They broadcast the emperor's image and authority throughout the Byzantine Empire. Think about the implications for visual literacy and power structures. Editor: And how the base materials--the bronze alloy and the labor required to mine, smelt, and strike the coin--speak volumes about the economic and social structures of the time. This isn't just about an image; it's about production. Curator: Absolutely. The iconography and distribution of this coin reinforced a specific political narrative for a wide audience. Editor: Examining it through this lens, we see beyond the face of the emperor, and grasp the material realities that upheld his reign. A potent intersection of image, object, and labor.