Coin 

Curator: Before us is a Byzantine coin, unsigned, yet imbued with the authority of an empire. Editor: It's humble, really. The rough edges and corroded surface speak to its past circulation, the hands it's passed through. Curator: Indeed, that erosion adds a layer of depth. Observe the faint but deliberate iconography; each symbol and its placement were designed to convey power and legitimacy. Editor: The very material matters, doesn't it? It embodies the social, political, and economic structures of the time. It's not just about what's on the surface. Curator: I concur. The interplay of line, form, and material engages the viewer in a dialogue across centuries. Editor: Seeing this coin makes me consider the anonymous laborers who mined the metal, cast the blanks, and struck each individual piece. Curator: A coin, not merely currency, but a symbol. Editor: Ultimately, a tool forged by and for the Byzantine state.