Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 583 - 584

This is a copper coin of Maurice Tiberius, who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 582 to 602 AD. It speaks to a time of transition in the late Roman world. The coin offers insight into the cultural and political symbolism of the era. On one side, we see an image of Maurice Tiberius, adorned in the garb of imperial power. His depiction is not just a portrait, it's a statement of authority and divine right. In contrast, the reverse side features a symbolic representation that likely held significance for the Byzantine people, perhaps related to military victories or dynastic claims. Reflecting on this coin, we consider how it might have felt in the hands of someone living in that period. What did it mean to see the emperor’s face on a coin, to participate in an economy legitimized by this image of power? The coin acts as a potent reminder of the emperor's reach into everyday life and the complex ways in which identity, power, and value were circulated and understood in the Byzantine Empire.