Solidus of Justinian II, Constantinople c. 705 - 711

Curator: At the Harvard Art Museums, we have a piece called Solidus of Justinian II from Constantinople. Editor: Visually, it's striking how the figures are rendered—so flat and frontal. The medium, gold, really amplifies that sense of solemnity. Curator: Absolutely, this coin served as a crucial form of imperial propaganda. Its imagery asserted Justinian's legitimacy and divine right to rule, circulating widely within the Byzantine empire and beyond. Editor: Notice the stark symmetry and the lines. The design choices reinforce the coin's function as a symbol, rather than striving for naturalistic representation. Curator: The coin's weight, just over 4 grams, speaks to its value and the economic power it represented. It connects us to the political and economic realities of Byzantium. Editor: For me, it is the contrast of the medium, with the flattened, almost hieratic style, that really encapsulates the period. Curator: Indeed, it’s a powerful intersection of material, image, and imperial ambition. Editor: A potent object—a tiny window into a vast empire.