Coin of Justin II c. 565 - 578

Curator: Here we have a gold coin of Justin II, a Byzantine Emperor. It's incredibly small, just a few grams. Editor: It feels like a miniature sun, doesn’t it? I’m struck by the way the light catches its surface, worn smooth by time and countless hands. Curator: Precisely. The coin's material speaks to power, to wealth, but also to the very tangible process of minting, of imperial control expressed through the labor of artisans. Editor: And beyond economics, there’s a face staring back across the centuries. Imagine the stories this little disc could tell—transactions, journeys, anxieties, all pressed into this concentrated sphere. Curator: This coin’s journey from raw material to currency to artifact embodies the evolution of value, both intrinsic and assigned. It's quite a journey for such a small thing. Editor: It's a potent reminder that even the smallest objects can hold echoes of vast empires.