Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 589 - 590

This is a coin of Maurice Tiberius, likely made of bronze, dating back to ancient times. Minting coins like this involved a multi-step process. First, the metal would be melted and cast into blanks. Then, these blanks were placed between two dies - hardened metal punches, each engraved with a mirror image of the coin's design. Hammering the dies together would transfer the design onto the coin. The coin’s worn surface and earthy color are products of time, but originally, the incised details would have been sharp and the metal would have gleamed. The act of striking coins was carefully controlled by the state, and a workforce would have been employed in the mines, smelters, and mints. The coin, therefore, is not only a unit of currency, but also a product of considerable organized labor. Considering the coin's production and circulation gives us a deeper understanding of its historical and economic context, reminding us that even the smallest objects can tell big stories about labor, power, and exchange.