Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 587 - 588

This copper coin, minted under Maurice Tiberius, features his bust adorned with a diadem, a symbol echoing the laurel wreaths of Roman emperors, and evoking power and authority. On the reverse, we see a large 'M', signifying the coin's value. Consider the diadem, and its symbolic journey. It is derived from the Hellenistic world, where it represented royal status. Even today, in the 20th century, we see the reappearance of diadems in beauty contests, and other representations of power. Its transformation over centuries reveals how symbols adapt. The diadem's enduring presence illustrates humanity's collective memory and its continuous, if subconscious, influence on artistic expression. This coin then is not merely currency but a relic of our persistent engagement with symbols of power and status.