Coin of Justinian I c. 559 - 560

Editor: Here we have a coin of Justinian I. The ruler himself is the artist! It looks timeworn, like it has stories etched onto its surface. What symbolic weight does such a small object carry? Curator: Indeed! It's a potent image of power and divine authority, even now. The Byzantine emperors often used imagery to connect with the past, specifically the Roman Empire, to legitimize their rule. Does the portrait remind you of anything? Editor: I see the echoes of Roman portraiture, yes. Curator: And how do you interpret the ‘M’ on the reverse side? Editor: Perhaps a denomination? Curator: Exactly! But also, consider how that single letter, stamped repeatedly, solidified economic control and communicated imperial power across the vast Byzantine world. Editor: It's amazing to consider how symbols on something so small can project so much authority. Curator: A tiny object, but a monumental statement!