Pentanummium of Justin II, Constantinople 565 - 578

Curator: This is a Pentanummium of Justin II from Constantinople. Editor: It looks so small, worn smooth by time. Like something found on the banks of a forgotten river. Curator: Coins like this were instrumental in daily life and economics. The imagery and inscriptions functioned as propaganda, asserting imperial power. Editor: Absolutely. The very act of minting and circulating currency was a statement, wasn't it? Power made manifest. I wonder, what kind of social exchanges did this coin facilitate? Curator: That’s a fascinating question, and one that demands consideration of gender, class, and religion within the Byzantine Empire. How did the symbolic capital embedded in this object impact the lived experiences of its users? Editor: It reminds us that even the smallest artifacts can unlock vast histories. A tiny, tangible piece of the past. Curator: Exactly. It serves as a potent reminder of how socio-political ideologies are baked into the very fabric of our material world.