Follis of Maurice Tiberius, Antioch on the Orontes 601 - 602

This bronze follis coin was struck in Antioch on the Orontes during the reign of Maurice Tiberius. Coins weren’t simply money; they were powerful tools of communication and propaganda for the Byzantine Empire. The images and inscriptions on coins broadcast the emperor's authority and projected an image of stability and prosperity. Minted under the authority of Maurice Tiberius, this coin reflects the emperor's efforts to consolidate power and legitimize his rule. The choice of imagery, the careful inscriptions, and even the metal itself served to reinforce the emperor's message to his subjects. To fully understand this coin, we would look at numismatic studies, Byzantine historical texts, and archaeological reports. By doing so, we can recover the complex social, political, and economic contexts in which it was produced and circulated, giving us greater insight into the workings of the Byzantine Empire.