Coin of Constantine X c. 1059 - 1067

Editor: This is a coin of Constantine X, we don't have an exact date for it, but it's currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's small, worn, and clearly very old. One side has a figure on it, maybe a saint or even Christ? What do you see in it? Curator: This coin, though humble in material, resonates with profound symbolism. The figure, likely Christ Pantocrator, speaks to divine authority, a visual shorthand for imperial power sanctioned by God. Consider how that image, circulated as currency, shaped the consciousness of its users. Editor: So, it’s not just money, but propaganda too? Curator: Precisely. Every time someone spent or received this coin, they were reminded of the Emperor's divinely ordained rule. Currency, then, functions as a powerful vehicle for cultural memory and the projection of power. Editor: That’s fascinating. It’s made me rethink how even everyday objects can carry such weight. Curator: Indeed. It invites us to consider what symbols we carry with us today, and what stories they tell.