Coin of Justin II c. 571 - 572

Curator: This is a coin minted during the reign of Justin II. It’s fascinating how something so small can carry so much history. What’s your immediate take? Editor: Worn. That's the first thing that hits me. Not just aged, but actively weathered, you know? Like it’s been whispering secrets to the earth for centuries. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a tangible link to the Byzantine Empire. Think of the hands it passed through, the transactions it facilitated, the lives it touched. Coins like these were instrumental to economic and social systems. Editor: And probably also instruments of oppression and exploitation, no? It's a reminder that even the smallest objects carry the weight of power dynamics. Curator: Yes, coins are never neutral objects. They are tools of power. Editor: Right, and this little artifact reminds us of the complexities embedded in the everyday. It’s got a story to tell, if we only listen. Curator: Precisely. And I'd like to think that maybe, just maybe, if we listen closely, it will give us some answers.