Hexagram of Constans II (forgery) c. 647 - 651

Curator: There's something incredibly haunting about this tiny coin. It’s called "Hexagram of Constans II," though it's believed to be a forgery. Editor: The imagery is immediately striking. A crude portrait, a cross on steps—it speaks to power, both temporal and spiritual, though tarnished and perhaps illegitimate. Curator: Indeed. The coin depicts Constans II, a Byzantine emperor, and on the reverse, a cross potent on steps, symbols ripe with significance in the Byzantine world. Editor: Its small size intensifies its impact, like a whispered secret carrying centuries of political and religious tension. To think that someone wanted to fake that. The politics of forgery... Curator: Precisely, and the wear and tear add to its mystique, transforming this small artifact into a potent historical object. Editor: It’s a stark reminder of how even falsified objects can reflect the enduring power of symbols.