Coin of Maurice Tiberius, Thessalonica c. 6th century

This copper coin was struck in Thessalonica during the reign of Maurice Tiberius. The coin is a material embodiment of power and authority. The face of the coin features a portrait of the emperor himself, instantly recognizable and therefore able to project imperial power throughout the realm. Consider the labor involved in its production. The mining and processing of the copper, the skilled die-engravers who created the image, and the workers who operated the mint. All these processes speak to the economic systems that underpinned the Byzantine Empire. Though a humble object, this coin offers a glimpse into a complex world of politics, trade, and material culture. It reminds us that even the smallest objects can carry significant cultural weight.