Pentanummium of Justin I, Constantinople 518 - 527

Editor: Here we have the Pentanummium of Justin I from Constantinople. It's so small, yet carries such weight, doesn't it? What kind of statement was Justin I trying to make with this imagery? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider how a ruler uses such a small object to project power. The imagery, likely including the Chi-Rho symbol, broadcasts the Emperor's authority as divinely sanctioned. How would its wide distribution have shaped public perception? Editor: So, its value isn't just monetary, but also a form of propaganda? Curator: Precisely. Consider the pentanummium not just as currency, but as a portable symbol of imperial power and religious legitimacy circulating within the Byzantine Empire. Editor: That gives me a new appreciation for something so seemingly insignificant. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It reminds us to look closely at the intersection of art, power, and belief in shaping the past.