Coin of Phokas c. 603 - 604

Curator: Before us is a bronze coin of Phokas, a Byzantine Emperor who reigned from 602 to 610 AD, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like a fragment of a much larger narrative; the wear and tear speak to the passage of time and shifts in power. Curator: Indeed. The coin presents a portrait of Phokas, adorned with a crown, signifying his authority, alongside inscriptions and symbols relating to his reign. The image is a powerful visual statement, projecting an image of imperial might. Editor: I see a statement also about the constructed nature of power; here is a man who usurped the throne from Maurice, and his portrayal is a deliberate attempt to legitimize his rule visually. The very act of minting coins, imprinting his image onto currency, was a performative assertion. Curator: Absolutely. The coin serves as a potent symbol of Phokas’s ambitions and the complex dynamics of Byzantine imperial power. The symbolism and imagery create a lasting visual record of his reign. Editor: Seeing this, I’m thinking about the relationship between image, power, and legitimacy. How do we construct our understanding of leadership and authority through material culture? This little coin opens a whole world to consider.