Coin of Justinian I c. 529 - 533

Curator: Looking at this copper coin of Justinian I, I immediately see it as a tangible link to the past, worn smooth by centuries of handling. Editor: Indeed. This object speaks volumes about the Byzantine economy and the Emperor’s power. Coins like these weren't just currency; they were tools of political messaging. Curator: Notice the image of Justinian himself, which was a direct method of communicating imperial authority, but the material itself, this copper, signals something about value and accessibility. Editor: Precisely. Coinage served as propaganda, with each image and inscription reinforcing Justinian’s legitimacy. We see the institutional apparatus of power made manifest. Curator: Thinking of the laborious processes that shaped it, it's interesting to consider who was involved in its creation, from the mining of the copper to the striking of the die. Editor: And how its distribution shaped social interactions. It's a small object, but it embodies the complex interplay of power, belief, and daily life in the Byzantine Empire. Curator: Looking at the worn details, I can't help but wonder about the individual hands it passed through. Editor: A fascinating glimpse into history, certainly.