Follis of Justinian I, Constantinople 527 - 538

Curator: Here we have a Follis of Justinian I, struck in Constantinople. Looking at it now, I’m immediately drawn to the heavy patination and the way the image feels both monumental and fragile. Editor: It's remarkable how a small coin, weighing less than 18 grams, reveals so much about the economy and imperial power structures of the Byzantine Empire. Consider the labor involved in minting thousands of these! Curator: Exactly! And observe how the incised portrait, the arrangement of symbols, and even the wear and tear contribute to its communicative power. Editor: The design reinforces imperial ideology. The stern portrait conveys authority, while the large "M" on the reverse signifies its value of 40 nummi, stabilizing trade throughout the region. Curator: I agree, this coin goes beyond a simple exchange instrument. It embodies the visual language of power and the administrative reach of Justinian's Constantinople. Editor: Seeing how form and content merge in this coin, one is able to better understand the Byzantine approach to political and cultural expression. Curator: Indeed, it’s a powerful artifact that offers a peek into the complex world of economics and governance in the early Byzantine era. Editor: A compact, almost unassuming, yet profoundly revealing object.