Pentanummium of Justin I, Constantinople 518 - 527

Editor: Here we have a Pentanummium of Justin I from Constantinople. It's a small, worn coin, but it feels weighty with history. I'm curious about the cross symbol on one side. What can you tell me about that? Curator: Ah, yes, the cross. It's not just a cross; it's a Chi-Rho, one of the earliest Christian symbols. It fuses the Greek letters Chi and Rho, representing Christ's name. It’s appearance on the coinage of Justin I signals the growing power of Christian symbolism in the Byzantine world. What does this symbol evoke for you? Editor: It makes me think about power and faith, maybe even a claim of divine right to rule. I hadn't thought about it as a declaration. Curator: Precisely. It's a powerful statement of faith and authority. These symbols are how societies speak across centuries. Editor: That's fascinating. I'll definitely look at coins differently now.