Coin of Justinian I c. 539 - 540

Curator: This is a "Coin of Justinian I," residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m immediately struck by its humble materiality. Bronze, worn smooth by countless hands, linking us to the daily life of Byzantium. Editor: What symbols resonate with you on this piece? Curator: Absolutely. The inscription surrounding Justinian's portrait evokes his divinely sanctioned authority. Notice the cross above the “M” on the reverse side. It represents 40 nummi, emphasizing the emperor's role as both earthly ruler and protector of Christendom. Editor: That large M is so prominent! The means of minting these coins, the labor involved—it all speaks to the vast bureaucratic apparatus needed to fuel an empire. Curator: Yes, and the effigy, though stylized, transmits the desired image of imperial power and prosperity. Editor: Even in this small object, we see echoes of the grand narrative of empire, its reach extending even to the smallest transactions. Curator: Precisely. It's fascinating how such a commonplace artifact can illuminate complex cultural and political ideas.