Coin of Justinian I, Thessalonica 527 - 562

Curator: Here we have a coin from Thessalonica, issued during the reign of Justinian I. Editor: It looks quite worn, as if it's weathered many hands and centuries. I can barely make out any details. Curator: Indeed, its patina speaks volumes about its journey through time. Coins like this were not just currency. They were tools of propaganda, disseminating the emperor's image and authority. Editor: That's interesting. It makes me think about the power of symbols and how even small objects like this coin could reinforce social hierarchies and control the narrative. Curator: Precisely. And the iconography, even in its degraded state, would have been instantly recognizable to the people of that era, solidifying Justinian's power. Editor: It's sobering to consider the weight of empire carried in something so small, and the inherent inequalities embedded within. Thanks for helping me see the bigger picture. Curator: My pleasure. Considering how it shaped governance, it's fascinating to see these pieces of the past in the present.