Coin of Constantine IX c. 1042 - 1055

Curator: What strikes me immediately about this Byzantine coin is its luminosity. The gold practically radiates. Editor: Indeed. We're looking at a "Coin of Constantine IX" from the Harvard Art Museums. It's fascinating how a small object could carry so much weight. Curator: Absolutely. Gold itself has always been associated with divinity and power, and here, the image of Christ Pantocrator reinforces that. The emperor essentially positions himself under divine authority. Editor: It's a direct claim to legitimacy, mirroring imperial power structures within the church itself. This coin was not just currency; it was propaganda. Curator: Precisely. These images are not merely portraits; they are visual articulations of power, deeply embedded within a specific cultural and political context. Editor: It’s a powerful reminder that even the smallest artifact can reveal immense truths about its time.