Coin of Justinian I 543 - 565

Curator: This is a coin of Justinian I, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. What’s your first impression? Editor: It looks worn, like it has truly been in circulation. I’m curious about the metals used and where they were mined. Curator: Absolutely. The coin’s imagery reflects the Byzantine Empire’s fusion of Roman imperial power and Christian symbolism. Notice the Chi-Rho? Editor: I do. I also think about who handled it. Was it a peasant's daily wage or a merchant's treasure? How was labor involved in creating and distributing it? Curator: Intriguing questions! It serves as a conduit to a different era, each symbol encoding a narrative of faith and dominion. Editor: For me, it’s less about power and more about the commonality of material and labor, linking us to those who lived over a thousand years ago. Curator: A humble object, speaking volumes across time. Editor: Precisely, material evidence of everyday life.