Decanummium of Phokas, Carthage 606 - 607

Curator: Here we have a Decanummium, a bronze coin issued in Carthage during the reign of Phocas, a rather unpopular Byzantine Emperor. Editor: It’s incredible how something so small can feel so weighty. I'm drawn to its roughness, its sense of being handled over centuries. Curator: The imagery is intriguing. On one side, we see what's likely a stylized depiction of Emperor Phocas, and on the other, a large "X" which I believe is a symbol of his imperial power. Editor: It feels like looking at a whisper from the past, a tiny, defiant mark of a fleeting moment in history. I find it hauntingly beautiful. Curator: Coins like these are echoes, really. They allow us to connect with distant rulers and lost empires. Editor: It really gives you pause, right? To think about what these coins were used for, what hands they passed through! A small piece of history that speaks volumes.