Coin of Justinian I c. 556 - 557

Curator: Looking at this coin, supposedly minted under Justinian I, it makes me wonder about the messages it carried. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by its worn surface. It feels so… tangible, like holding history in your hand. What can it tell us? Curator: Coins like this were powerful tools. They broadcast the emperor’s image and authority across the Byzantine Empire. Think of it as early mass media. Editor: Yes, but who benefited? Justinian’s reign, though powerful, was also marked by vast wealth inequality. How did this symbol of power function for the masses living in poverty? Curator: Precisely. Currency facilitated trade and taxation, centralizing economic power within the empire and reflecting the social hierarchies of the time. Editor: It’s a stark reminder that seemingly simple objects can be loaded with complex socio-political implications. I’m left considering who it truly served. Curator: A coin, small as it is, it embodies both immense political power and the realities of daily life in the Byzantine world. Editor: Absolutely, prompting reflection on its role in both propagating and potentially obscuring the narratives of the era.