Dodecanummium of Justinian I c. 527 - 565

Curator: This fascinating object is a Dodecanummium of Justinian I, currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks so worn, almost like it's trying to fade back into the earth from which it came. I wonder what kind of labor went into making it. Curator: As a symbol, this coin speaks volumes about the Byzantine Empire's power and its ruler’s image. The imagery served as a constant reminder of the Emperor's authority. Editor: And yet, the very process of minting, distributing, and using it tells an even deeper story, doesn't it? Of trade routes, economies, and everyday transactions. Curator: Indeed. Coins like these were not just currency, but also miniature monuments, carrying potent symbolic weight. The degradation of the coin adds layers to it. Editor: It really makes you think about how material things connect us to the past, and how they continue to circulate through our lives, bearing witness to human activity.