Coin of Constantine X c. 1059 - 1067

Curator: Here we have a "Coin of Constantine X," attributed to Constantine X himself. It's currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a weighty feel, doesn't it? You can almost sense the history embedded in that metal. Curator: Indeed. This small coin speaks volumes about power, representation, and the Byzantine world. The images stamped on either side were carefully chosen. Editor: Look at the wear and tear, the way the metal has aged. This object circulated through Byzantine society, changing hands and influencing daily life. The social context is right there on the surface. Curator: Absolutely. And in his depiction, we see a visual representation of imperial authority, of Constantine's right to rule, and the influence of religion on that power. Editor: Thinking about its production, the labor involved in mining, smelting, and stamping… It's a concentrated record of those processes and also of the resources extracted to create this symbolic object. Curator: I agree. Examining it now lets us reconsider the narratives we construct around gender, race, and even class in medieval society. Editor: It makes you wonder who handled this coin, what transactions it facilitated, and the material conditions of their lives. Curator: Precisely. It's a fascinating point of entry into the economic and social structures of the time. Editor: This coin is a testament to the layered stories objects can tell, how the history of their making intertwines with history more broadly.