Coin of Constans II c. 647 - 659

Editor: This is a coin of Constans II. Given its age, it is in pretty rough condition, but you can still make out a portrait. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Coins like this were less about personal expression and more about projecting power and legitimacy. Consider how the image of Constans II, however degraded now, circulated widely, reinforcing his rule. What does it tell us about the Byzantine Empire's control of imagery and its subjects? Editor: So, it’s about more than just money. It's a statement. That’s fascinating. Curator: Precisely. The coin's wear also tells a story of its journey through time and hands. It embodies cultural endurance and political communication.