Coin of Justinian I c. 539 - 540

Editor: This is a coin of Justinian I, a copper piece currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. It's a bit battered, really worn, but there’s a solemn weightiness to it. What do you see in this piece, beyond just an old coin? Curator: Oh, it's so much more than that, isn't it? I see a direct link to a powerful emperor, a glimpse into the Byzantine world. It’s a tiny portal, wouldn’t you say? This specific coin showcases Justinian's attempt to stabilize the economy, even as plague and war were ravaging the empire. Think of all the hands this has passed through! Editor: It's humbling to consider its journey through time. Thanks for that glimpse, it makes the coin come alive. Curator: Exactly! It's a conversation across centuries. Isn't that what makes art so endlessly fascinating?