Coin of Justinian I c. 527 - 538

Curator: This is a coin featuring Justinian I, a powerful figure of the Byzantine Empire, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks so weathered, doesn't it? The lines are softened, the details worn, but the form, the composition, still speaks to its original intent. Curator: Absolutely. Justinian's reign was marked by significant legal reforms and ambitious building projects. The coin, in that context, becomes a tool of imperial projection, a way to disseminate his image and authority. Editor: And the iconography! That 'M' dominates one side. It's such a bold, graphic choice. The symbolism is so interesting. Curator: The coin embodies the intersection of power, religion, and identity in Byzantine society, reflecting Justinian's complex role. Editor: It's incredible to think of the hands this small object passed through. Curator: Indeed. It reminds us that even the smallest artifact carries enormous historical weight.