Coin of Justinian I c. 543 - 565

Editor: Here we have a coin of Justinian I. It's small and made of, well, it looks like well-worn bronze. What strikes me is how much it seems to be a product of its time and the processes involved in making it. What stands out to you? Curator: Absolutely. It's not just a symbol of power, but a direct product of labor and material resources. The bronze itself, where it was mined, how it was processed – that tells a story about the Byzantine economy and trade routes. Consider the skill of the die engraver, the network needed to get raw materials in their hands. Editor: So, it is a bit like looking at the economic and social world of the Byzantine Empire? Curator: Precisely. It challenges our notions of "high art" by grounding us in the realities of labor, materiality, and consumption. Editor: I never thought of a coin that way! Curator: Coins are a great way to reflect about what has changed and what hasn't.