Coin of Constantine X c. 1059 - 1067

Editor: Here we have a coin of Constantine X, its precise date is unknown, residing here at Harvard Art Museums and it weighs 8.25 grams. It looks incredibly worn; what do you see in this piece? Curator: This coin embodies power and identity. Consider Constantine X’s reign, steeped in political maneuvering and social hierarchies. How does the coin's imagery reinforce or challenge these power structures? Editor: I never thought about it like that. So the coin itself is making a statement? Curator: Precisely. It's not just currency, it's a carefully crafted object of propaganda reflecting gender, class, and the anxieties of its time. The very material speaks to access and control. Editor: That is fascinating. I'll never look at a coin the same way again! Curator: Indeed, art offers a lens into the complex tapestry of human experience.