Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 584 - 585

This coin was produced during the reign of Maurice Tiberius, likely in the late 6th century, and it's made of bronze, a common, practical material for currency at the time. The coin's design is simple, but it speaks volumes about the world in which it was made. The process probably involved casting the metal and then striking it with a die to create the image of the emperor on one side and the mark of its monetary value on the other. Bronze, being relatively inexpensive, allowed for mass production, facilitating trade and economic activity. What’s particularly interesting is the direct connection between the coin's material and its function as a tool of economic and political power. Its form, weight, and imagery all served to standardize and legitimize transactions across the Byzantine Empire. The very act of minting such a coin involved the labor of countless individuals. So, the next time you hold a coin, remember it's not just a piece of metal, but also a symbol of complex interactions, production processes, and labor.