Coin of Justinian I c. 539 - 540

Editor: Here we have a coin of Justinian I from the Harvard Art Museums. Looking at the materials and wear, it makes me wonder about the hands it's passed through. What stands out to you? Curator: Well, consider the base metal and the labor required to extract, refine, and strike this coin. It speaks to the social organization and control Justinian wielded. How does the coin's circulation impact Byzantine society? Editor: It's like a small, portable billboard. What can we learn from that? Curator: Precisely! Think about how the coin would have facilitated commerce, standardized value, and visually reinforced Justinian's authority. The materiality and mass production of these coins enabled the expansion of the empire's economic and ideological reach. Editor: So the coin is more than just its face value. Thanks, I'll be looking at coins differently now. Curator: Indeed, understanding the process of creation illuminates the power dynamics at play.