Coin of Justinian I c. 548 - 549

Curator: Here we have a copper coin of Justinian I, weighing just over 19 grams, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's remarkably humble, isn't it? I mean, empires rise and fall, but this little thing persists. There's something almost stubborn about its survival. Curator: Absolutely. Its materiality speaks to the realities of imperial economics. The copper alloy was intentionally debased in times of fiscal stress to produce more currency, it's evidence of economic pressures. Editor: It's a face and a "M," almost like ancient graffiti, yet charged with authority. I find it striking how much of an empire’s story can be told through something this small. Curator: Indeed. The coin’s design and metal content are reflections of the era's complex power dynamics and economic policies. It is the intersection of art, labor, and governance right there in your palm. Editor: It makes you wonder about the hands it passed through. Curator: Ultimately, it's a portal to another time, a tangible link to Justinian’s reign. Editor: A tiny bronze key, unlocking an era.