Half Follis of Maurice Tiberius, Constantinople 588 - 589

This coin, or half follis, was made in Constantinople during the reign of Maurice Tiberius. It is made of bronze, which has now patinated to a rich green and brown. The method of production would have involved skilled die-cutters who engraved the image in negative onto iron punches. These were then hammered into blanks of heated bronze, creating the coin in relief. The emperor himself is portrayed on one side, while on the other we see the mark of the issuing authority. Coins like this were the lifeblood of the Byzantine economy, facilitating trade and the payment of soldiers. They were, in effect, a key technology that enabled the empire to function. Their value as artifacts lies not only in their artistic merit, but in what they tell us about power, labour, and the material underpinnings of society.