Half Follis of Tiberius II, Thessalonika 

Editor: Here we have a Half Follis of Tiberius II from Thessalonika. It's a small bronze coin, quite worn. What can you tell me about its importance? Curator: This object speaks volumes about production and economy. The coin's materiality—bronze—reveals its function in everyday exchange. Consider the labor involved in its mining, smelting, and striking. Editor: So, more about the process than the imagery? Curator: Precisely. The imperfections, the wear, these all tell a story of circulation and use. How does its presence challenge the boundary between art object and functional item? What can it reveal about the empire's modes of production? Editor: It's fascinating to think of it as more than just a coin. Curator: Indeed, material analysis redirects our attention from the surface to the underlying structures of power and production.