Pentanummium of Justin I, Nicomedia 518 - 527

Curator: This object before us is a Pentanummium of Justin I, produced in Nicomedia. Its tiny size belies its significance. Editor: It’s so worn, yet I feel an immediate connection to its history; I am struck by its smallness and the density of symbols on its surface. Curator: Indeed. The Pentanummium circulated during Justin I's reign in the early 6th century. The imagery reflects the symbolic convergence of imperial power and the rising influence of Christianity. Editor: Absolutely. I see the Emperor's profile, but then the reverse presents the Chi-Rho symbol. It represents not just Christianity but its consolidation within the state itself, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely! It's fascinating how this single coin encapsulates that shift in power through potent iconography. Editor: To hold something like this is to literally grasp a transformation in how power was both wielded and perceived. It's a material fragment of immense cultural weight.