Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 593 - 594

This coin was crafted by Maurice Tiberius, and you can find it at Harvard. It's like holding a tiny, timeworn canvas in your hand, isn't it? I can almost feel the weight of history pressing down, the artist carefully etching the ruler’s profile. There’s a raw, etched quality to the lines, the material's surface itself becoming a kind of gesture, a record of touch and pressure. I wonder what Maurice Tiberius was thinking as he worked? Was it just a job? Looking at the lettering, I'm reminded that every mark carries intention, a desire to communicate, to leave a trace. It all resonates with the work of other artists across time, from cave paintings to contemporary sculpture. We are all adding to the same conversation.