Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 582 - 602

This coin, commissioned by Maurice Tiberius, is a small but potent object made of copper. Its circular form, although slightly irregular from age, provides a contained space for symbolic representation. The surfaces, worn with time, reveal a muted palette of browns and reddish hues, hinting at the material's degradation and the passage of centuries. Look closely at the composition, where the incised lines and shapes form a portrait and lettering. The very act of imprinting these images and texts onto a coin transforms it from mere currency into a powerful signifier of authority and identity. Coins like this are not just mediums of exchange, but deliberate constructions designed to communicate specific messages about the ruler and the empire. Consider how the physical qualities, like weight and texture, contribute to its function as a tool for trade and governance. This coin, therefore, exists at the intersection of material reality and symbolic meaning, inviting us to decode the complex relationship between power, representation, and value.