Coin of Justin II c. 565 - 578

Editor: This is a gold coin of Justin II, and it’s incredible to think of the labor involved in extracting and refining the gold. What does its materiality tell us about its purpose? Curator: Precisely! The value wasn't just symbolic, but rooted in the material itself. Consider the mining, the smelting, the die-making – all of it speaks to the power structures that controlled these resources and the labor they commanded. How did its production influence trade and social status at the time? Editor: So, the coin is not just about Justin II, but about the economic system that supported him? Curator: Exactly. We can learn more about the social context of the coin through the division of labor in the Byzantine empire. Editor: That's fascinating! I will definitely consider that in future research. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's about seeing art as more than just images, but also as products of a specific material world.