Pentanummium of Justinian I 538 - 565

Curator: This is a Pentanummium, a small bronze coin weighing just over two grams. It was issued during the reign of Justinian I. Editor: It looks so weathered, like a relic unearthed from the very foundations of Byzantium. Curator: Indeed. Its materiality speaks volumes about the vast, complex network of trade and labor that fueled the empire. The creation of even something this small involved mining, smelting, minting… Editor: And its imagery! The symbols aren’t just decoration; they’re deliberate assertions of imperial power and religious authority. To hold this coin is to touch the intersection of faith, politics, and economics in Justinian’s world. Curator: Precisely. And to understand its metallic composition, its weight, and the process of its creation is to understand the very fabric of daily life back then. Editor: It’s a potent reminder that even the smallest objects can carry the weight of history. Curator: Yes, a tangible reminder of material production and its reach. Editor: And of the narratives of power embedded in its creation and use.