Solidus of Maurice Tiberius, Constantinople c. 583

This gold coin, or solidus, was minted in Constantinople under the reign of Maurice Tiberius, who ruled the Eastern Roman Empire from 582 to 602 AD. As a piece of currency, the solidus wasn't just about monetary value; it was a carefully crafted statement of imperial power. The image of Maurice on one side, adorned with imperial regalia, broadcasts his authority and divine right to rule. The other side depicts an angel, reinforcing the empire's Christian identity and its claim to divine protection. Coins like this offer historians a wealth of information. By studying the imagery, inscriptions, and even the weight and composition of the metal, we can learn about the political ideologies, religious beliefs, and economic conditions of the Byzantine Empire. Numismatic collections, along with written sources, become valuable resources for understanding the past. The meaning of art, even something as seemingly simple as a coin, is always contingent on its social and institutional context.