Coin of Justinian I c. 540 - 541

Editor: Here we have a "Coin of Justinian I," and though we don't have an exact date, it's a tangible artifact from his reign! The coin itself has this weighty, aged presence. What strikes you about it? Curator: For me, it’s the immediacy. Imagine the hand that held this, the transaction it represented. It's a direct line to a world of power and faith. The portrait, the inscriptions—it's a mini-manifesto! It speaks volumes. Editor: I never thought of a coin as a manifesto. It’s definitely got me thinking. Curator: Exactly! Art doesn't have to be grand to be profound.