follis of Maurice Tiberius 

This is a bronze follis of Maurice Tiberius, a Byzantine Emperor, now residing in Harvard. Here, we observe the enduring symbol of the ruler. The emperor's face, though weathered by time, echoes the powerful Roman tradition of imprinting authority onto currency. This act, laden with symbolism, served not only as a medium for trade but also as a constant reminder of the Emperor's presence and power, a kind of psychological anchoring in the daily lives of his subjects. Consider the image of power throughout history, from the god-kings of ancient Egypt to the divine right of European monarchs. Here, the same archetypal need to visualize and embody power is at play. The face on the coin acts as a potent symbol, an almost totemic object representing the stability and reach of the empire. This coin whispers stories of cultural memory, resonating with images of leadership across millennia. The enduring need to manifest authority through symbols speaks to the depth of our collective psyche. It is a timeless dance of power and representation, forever imprinted in the human mind.