Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 587 - 588

This coin was likely made during the reign of Maurice Tiberius, probably sometime between 582 and 602 AD. It’s made of bronze, and would have been produced using a lost-wax casting process. In this technique, a wax model is made, then encased in clay, and heated to melt out the wax, leaving a void into which the bronze is poured. The result is a durable object, literally stamped with the ruler’s authority. The material has taken on a weathered look, due to oxidation over time. What’s really interesting here is the social context of this object. A great deal of labor went into the mining of the ore, the firing of the clay, the casting of the form, and the distribution of the coin as a medium of exchange. Next time you see a humble coin like this, remember the huge system of making and meaning that it represents. It is a testament to the power of material culture.