Follis of Justin I, Constantinople 518 - 527

Curator: This is a Follis of Justin I from Constantinople, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. It's a bronze coin from the early Byzantine era. Editor: There's something melancholic about this little disc; it feels like holding a whisper of a forgotten empire, all that weight distilled into 16 grams. Curator: Indeed. Coins like these were tools of imperial propaganda. Consider the portrait of Justin I, the inscription asserting his authority—they served as constant reminders of the emperor's presence and power. Editor: The wear and tear! It speaks of sweaty palms, bustling marketplaces, the mundane transactions of daily life. I imagine the lives this coin has touched... now that's the real art. Curator: Absolutely. Studying these objects gives insights into the economic and political systems of the time, and the ways imperial authority permeated daily life. Editor: Holding it, you can almost hear the echoes of a civilization. It really makes you think about what future relics of our culture will tell others of us.