Coin of Justin II c. 565 - 578

Curator: At the Harvard Art Museums, we have a "Coin of Justin II." The coin itself weighs 1.80 g. Editor: The coin looks worn and a bit crude. It speaks to the daily life of a distant past. Curator: Coins like these were not just currency. They were tools of imperial propaganda, circulating images of power and authority. Editor: The coin offers a perspective of how power and identity were communicated to the people. Who did this imagery empower and exclude? Curator: That's a question worth asking. The coin gives us a glimpse into the complexities of the Byzantine Empire. Editor: And reminds us that even small objects can hold profound stories.