Coin of Justinian I c. 542 - 543

Editor: So, here we have a Coin of Justinian I from the Harvard Art Museums. The material presence of this small object is striking. What do you make of the visual structure of this coin? Curator: Note the strategic use of symbols. The obverse features a portrait, bisected by a cross; the reverse, a large 'M', likely denoting monetary value, also crowned by a cross. The meticulous inscription further frames the central forms, creating a balance in its visual language. Editor: Fascinating! So the design elements clearly communicate power and value? Curator: Precisely. The visual rhetoric asserts authority through carefully considered design. What do you perceive to be the function of these forms? Editor: It is interesting to think about how the arrangement of shape and texture is meant to convey very specific ideas. Thanks for that insight!