Coin of Justinian II c. 705 - 711

Curator: This is a gold coin of Justinian II, a Byzantine Emperor. Editor: The stark, frontal depiction has an almost unsettling directness; it's striking. Curator: Indeed. Consider the value of the material itself. Gold, meticulously struck, speaks volumes about imperial power and control over resources. Editor: I'm drawn to the surface texture, the subtle relief work. It's almost like a miniature sculpture in the round. Curator: And what about the image of Christ? Its inclusion normalizes Justinian’s divinely sanctioned authority. Editor: The coin becomes more than currency; it's a portable icon, dense with religious and political meaning. Curator: Precisely. We see here how value, artistry, and power intersect. Editor: A lasting, if miniature, testament to a ruler’s ambition.