Coin of Justinian I c. 552 - 565

Editor: This is a coin of Justinian I, and the details are amazing given the coin's size. What can we understand by its materiality and production? Curator: Consider the silver itself. Where did it come from? The mines, the labor, the systems of extraction all speak to the Byzantine economy. Editor: So, the coin isn't just about Justinian's image, but the whole network behind it? Curator: Exactly. The very act of minting and distributing these coins was a demonstration of imperial power and control over resources and trade routes. What do you think it tells us about Justinian's vision? Editor: It shows how even something small reflects the complex processes behind power. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. A tiny coin, a vast empire.