Coin of Justinian I c. 561 - 562

Curator: This is a coin of Justinian I, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. The coin itself seems to be made from bronze, measuring roughly 1.8 grams. Editor: It looks worn and well-handled, doesn't it? You can see the evidence of its material life in the surface texture. Curator: Indeed. Think about its function: circulating value and Imperial decree in tangible form, disseminated through daily transactions. Who handled it? What were their lives like? Editor: Absolutely. The political power of imagery in a coin, in something so small, is quite striking. It served as a constant reminder of Justinian's reign. Curator: To really understand this coin, we must consider not just its face value, but its practical application: the labor that created the bronze, the skill in the craft, and the hands through which it passed. Editor: And beyond that, the coin's presence in the Harvard Art Museums today tells a story of its own—of how objects become artifacts, valued for reasons quite different than their original function. Curator: A humble coin, a rich and multi-layered history. Editor: Precisely, a potent symbol of power and history made accessible through its materiality.