Hexagram of Constans II, Constantinople c. 409 - 411

Editor: This is a silver coin called Hexagram of Constans II from Constantinople. It looks worn, but you can still make out the emperor's face. What can you tell me about how this coin functioned in society? Curator: Well, consider the context. A hexagram like this wasn't just currency; it was a form of imperial propaganda. The image of Constans II, placed there, asserted his power, and Byzantium's authority, right? Who controlled the imagery on coinage controlled the narrative, especially in trade and public transactions. What do you think such a worn coin tells us about its history? Editor: Perhaps it circulated widely, reinforcing that imperial authority across long distances? Curator: Exactly! It highlights the coin’s role in the social and political theatre of the Byzantine world, and, perhaps, its symbolic persistence beyond Constans II's reign. Editor: So, even something as small as a coin offers a glimpse into the political strategies of an empire. Curator: Precisely. It makes me think about how we understand value and authority, even today.