Coin of Justinian I c. 538 - 539

Curator: Here we have a bronze coin bearing the likeness of Justinian I. It's a heavy piece, weighing in at just over 23 grams. Editor: The patina! It feels like holding history in your hand, doesn’t it? The coin is both artifact and portal. Curator: Indeed. This coin, now held by the Harvard Art Museums, speaks volumes about the Byzantine economy and Justinian's reign. Note the large "M" on the reverse. Editor: It's almost brutally simple in its design. Like a child's drawing of power. What stories could this metal tell? Curator: It represents 40 nummi, a key denomination in Byzantine commerce. The coin’s production reflects the empire’s administrative reach and control. Editor: I feel a connection to the past here; a tangible thread. One day this coin was shiny, then held, traded and lost... Curator: Exactly. It’s an object that witnessed daily life. Editor: Makes you think about what will survive of our time!