Coin of Justin II c. 569 - 570

Curator: This copper coin, attributed to Justin II, immediately strikes me with its weathered texture and intimate scale. Editor: A coin offers a fascinating window into the power dynamics of the Byzantine Empire. Justin II used coinage to disseminate his image and legitimize his rule. Curator: Notice how the figures on one side are rendered almost identically, perhaps signifying a divinely sanctioned power structure. The cross above the "M," which probably indicates its value, also adds another layer to this symbol. Editor: Indeed. The imagery and inscription, though worn, speak volumes about the emperor's self-perception and the messages he wished to convey to his subjects. What stories this little coin could tell. Curator: It is amazing to see how the coin becomes an artefact to be understood through materiality and political context.