Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 591 - 592

This coin, made by Maurice Tiberius, features potent symbols of authority and faith. On one side, we see the emperor himself, his visage a claim to earthly power. On the reverse, a large "M" dominates, flanked by other symbols, all testaments to imperial strength and divine favor. Consider this "M," not just as a letter, but as a vessel of meaning, a condensed symbol that echoes through history. In earlier Roman coinage, similar monograms often represented emperors or important virtues. The repetition of such symbols across centuries reveals a deep-seated human need to anchor power in familiar, visually resonant forms. The power in these symbols persists because they tap into a collective memory. The visual language speaks to the viewer on a visceral level, promising stability and order. This is an enduring cycle of symbols that resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.