Follis of Justinian I, Antioch c. 6th century

Editor: Here we have a Follis of Justinian I from Antioch. It's a small coin, almost worn smooth with age. What strikes you about this object? Curator: This coin isn't just currency; it's a potent symbol of imperial power and religious ideology intersecting in Byzantine society. Consider how Justinian I strategically uses his image and Christian symbols to legitimize his rule and project authority. How might this coin have reinforced social hierarchies and power dynamics within the empire? Editor: So it's less about the monetary value and more about what it represents? Curator: Precisely. Its material presence also speaks volumes. The bronze, though humble, connected daily life to the grand narrative of the empire, reminding people of the emperor's omnipresence. This coin prompts us to reflect on how seemingly insignificant objects can be powerful tools of social control and identity formation.