Coin of Justinian I c. 541 - 542

Curator: This is a coin of Justinian I, a copper nummus likely produced in Constantinople. The coin weighs just over 21 grams. It's quite small, but I find it amazing how much symbolism is packed onto such a tiny object. Editor: The wear is telling, isn't it? The surfaces have been smoothed by countless hands, yet the images and letters remain legible. I imagine the physical properties of the metal are key to its survival. Curator: Indeed. The portrait of Justinian, even worn, projects imperial authority. Flip it over, and you see the large "M," the Greek numeral for 40—denoting the coin's value—flanked by other symbols that were potent signifiers in Byzantine society. Editor: Think of the workshops where these were struck: the heat, the noise, the skilled labor involved in producing these en masse. Each one a piece of propaganda and an economic tool. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a reminder that even the smallest, most commonplace objects can be rich with meaning, carrying a culture's values and beliefs across centuries. Editor: It truly makes you consider the economic and social forces behind the everyday objects we take for granted.