Half Follis of Justinian I, Thessalonica 527 - 562

Curator: What a find! Here we have a Half Follis of Justinian I, minted in Thessalonica. It's a small bronze coin, but it carries a tremendous weight of history. Editor: It looks so worn and humble, doesn't it? A far cry from the grand visions of empire it once represented. It makes you think about power—how it circulates, and how easily it erodes. Curator: Absolutely. The coin features Justinian himself on one side, and a large "K," indicating its value, on the other. The artistry is simple, yet effective. Editor: And that simplicity speaks volumes. The very act of mass-producing these images, these symbols of authority... it’s a form of propaganda, embedding power into the everyday. Curator: I suppose in some ways, it worked. Though seeing the coin, almost as if unearthed yesterday, really underscores the endurance of art. Editor: Or perhaps, the enduring power of symbols. Food for thought, indeed.