Coin of Justinian I c. 545 - 565

Curator: This is a coin of Justinian I, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s quite small, but the gold still glints even now. It feels incredibly tactile despite being behind glass. Curator: Absolutely. The imagery chosen carries immense weight: the emperor himself, of course, symbolizing earthly power blessed by the figure of Christ on the reverse. Editor: The gold itself communicates power so directly. Who mined it, who refined it, who hammered the die? The labor embedded in this tiny object speaks volumes about Byzantium's economic reach. Curator: And its visual language! The cross Justinian holds, the imperial regalia, the very deliberate inscription—all reinforcing his divinely ordained authority. Editor: Yet, considering its age and presumed handling, the wear is remarkably minimal. Shows how durable the material is, meant for exchange but also for enduring symbolic display. Curator: Exactly, the coin transcends mere monetary value, becoming a potent symbol through its carefully chosen images. Editor: A fascinating reminder that even the smallest object can embody monumental power structures and the hands that shaped them.