Follis of Justin II, Kyzikos c. 567 - 568

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to this Byzantine bronze coin, a Follis of Justin II from Kyzikos, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, it's tiny, but has such presence. There's a strange energy about it; like holding a silent, potent secret. Curator: Its production speaks to the economic and political systems of the Byzantine Empire. Bronze was an accessible material, used for everyday transactions, showing how power touched ordinary lives. Editor: I love thinking about whose hands this passed through! The wear and tear, the faded images... it tells so many stories without saying a word. It feels like a worn-out promise. Curator: Absolutely. The materiality itself – the metal content, the minting process – reflect the state's control over resources and trade. Editor: It really does. Well, I'm going to go and hold onto that thought for a moment! Curator: Me too.