Pentanummium of Justin II and Sophia, Constantinople 565 - 578

Curator: What catches my eye about this pentanummium of Justin II and Sophia is its quiet resilience; the way it's survived across so many centuries. Editor: It's funny, the first thing I noticed was how abject it looks, like something spat out from the past. It seems to scream "late antique crisis" to me. Curator: It's true, there's a weight of history pressing down, but look closer—these coins, minted in Constantinople, were tokens of imperial power. Imagine the hands they passed through. Editor: And that power was built on exploitation, oppression, wouldn’t you say? Who benefited, and at what cost? I’m thinking especially about Sophia’s role as empress and her complicated place in the patriarchal structure. Curator: Of course, the story is never simple. Each coin is a tiny portal, hinting at both grandeur and the grittier realities of empire. Editor: Exactly. And by engaging with these objects, we open up those conversations, even the uncomfortable ones. It's about acknowledging the complexities of our shared past, wouldn't you agree?