Coin of Maurice Tiberius c. 584 - 585

This bronze coin, made by Maurice Tiberius, is in the collection at Harvard. The brown patina evokes a sense of history, like a landscape painting after centuries of weathering. I imagine Tiberius carefully incising into the metal, his hand guided by tradition and the demands of imperial power. It’s like he’s painting with a chisel! What would it have been like to create something that carries so much weight, both literally and figuratively? The design, worn and softened by time, whispers of the emperor's image and authority. The cross, almost floral, communicates a sense of both power and faith. It’s a reminder that every mark carries intention, and that art, in all its forms, is a conversation across time. I’m feeling a strange kinship with Tiberius right now, separated by centuries but connected by the drive to make my mark.