Coin of Maurice Tiberius, Alexandria 582 - 602

This coin of Maurice Tiberius was made in Alexandria. The artist probably wasn’t an artist, but an artisan. I imagine him in his workshop, carefully hammering and shaping these little bronze disks, maybe thinking about the emperor, or his family, or what he will have for dinner. The coin's surface is worn, but this only adds to its story. Time and movement have softened its edges, creating a unique texture. Look at the letters stamped on the coin. What do they mean? What language are they written in? I'm curious about how the artist would have made the stamp in the first place, and what that says about their practice. When I look at an object like this, I think about all the different people who have handled it over the years, and how artists—or in this case, artisans—are always in conversation with each other, responding to the world around them and leaving their mark on history.