Coin of Michael VII c. 1071 - 1078

Curator: Here we have a coin of Michael VII, located in the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs just 3.56 grams. The images appear quite worn. Editor: Yes, time and circulation have certainly taken their toll. I immediately sense a poignant connection to the past, the weight of history embedded in something so small. Curator: As a symbol of imperial authority, this coin offers insight into Byzantine political power and economic structures. The image of Michael VII is deliberately fashioned to project legitimacy. Editor: Right. And who gets to decide what is legitimate? What does that imagery exclude? What are the implications of representing power through a single man? Curator: It is a reminder of the deeply hierarchical structures of the time, and how imagery was deployed in the service of power. Editor: Exactly, and still serves a function today. Food for thought from a small coin. Curator: Indeed, it gives a glimpse into the world of Byzantine rulership.