Coin of Constans II c. 659 - 660

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the fragmentation, the sheer mutability of this object. Editor: Indeed. We are examining a "Coin of Constans II," residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Each side presents a compelling study in iconography. Curator: Yes, the obverse features what appears to be the emperor himself, flanked by his sons. The composition is rigidly symmetrical, yet the wear introduces a fascinating asymmetry. Editor: The minting of coins under Constans II was pivotal for the Byzantine Empire. This coin embodies the political and economic climate of his reign, a tangible representation of power. Curator: The material itself—presumably bronze or a similar alloy—speaks to its function. A common medium for circulating value and projecting imperial power. Editor: It's a small object that tells a big story about the movement of resources and the social hierarchies of the time. A powerful symbol, reduced by time. Curator: Ultimately, its form—regardless of condition—continues to communicate purpose, a testament to its structural integrity. Editor: The resilience of such small items to survive speaks volumes about the value and power bestowed upon them by the cultures that produced and traded them.