Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 597 - 598

This coin, made by Maurice Tiberius, now resides in Harvard. Just imagine the moment it was struck. The intense pressure, the design pressed into the metal. You can see the textures and how they catch the light—the raised portrait, the lettering around the edge. Every little imperfection tells a story. I’m drawn to the face on this coin; it’s so formal and stylized, yet it hints at something human. What was he thinking when he commissioned this? How did he want to be seen? It’s fascinating to see how different artists, even those working in vastly different mediums and times, grapple with similar questions of representation, power, and identity. This coin, like a painting, is a testament to the enduring human need to create and communicate. I love thinking about how artists across history are constantly building upon each other’s ideas.