Follis of Justin II, Nicomedia 574 - 575

Editor: Here we have the Follis of Justin II, from Nicomedia. It’s fascinating how this small coin, weighing just over 12 grams, could represent so much power and economic activity. What can we learn by looking at its materiality and the process of its production? Curator: Exactly! The very substance of this coin, its bronze composition, speaks to trade networks and the technologies of extraction and alloying. Its worn surface tells of its journey through countless hands, facilitating daily exchange and imperial control. Consider the labor involved in its creation—mining, smelting, die-cutting, striking—each step embedded with social relations. Editor: So, this coin is not just currency, but a record of labor and power? Curator: Precisely. It embodies the empire’s reach, both in terms of resource extraction and the distribution of its image. We see value assigned through labor, material, and imperial decree, all condensed into this single object. Editor: I never thought a coin could tell such a complex story. Thanks for shedding light on the layers of production and social impact tied to this piece. Curator: My pleasure. Remember to always ask what something *is* made of, and *how* that making shapes its meaning.