Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 586 - 587

This bronze coin features Maurice Tiberius, who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 582 to 602 AD. It is a material vestige of a leader whose reign was marked by military campaigns and administrative reforms. The coin provides a glimpse into the construction and maintenance of imperial power. The depiction of Maurice Tiberius on the coin, even in its worn state, asserts his authority. Coins like these were not just currency, they were also tools for disseminating an emperor's image and projecting power throughout the empire. The act of holding this coin connects us, however tenuously, to the economic and political realities of the Byzantine Empire. It prompts us to consider how power is communicated through images and objects, and how these symbols shape our understanding of history. It’s a small object that carries a lot of weight.