Byzantine coin 

Editor: This is a Byzantine coin, its creation attributed to the Byzantine Empire. The wear and tear really give it a sense of history. What can you tell me about its significance? Curator: This coin isn't just currency; it's a powerful symbol of imperial authority and religious ideology. Consider how images of Christ or the Emperor, imbued with divine right, circulated widely. How might this coin have shaped perceptions of power and identity within the Byzantine world, and perhaps even challenged existing social structures? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't thought about how something so small could carry so much weight. Thanks! Curator: It’s a reminder that even the smallest objects can be potent agents of social and political discourse.