Coin of Michael VII c. 1071 - 1078

Editor: This is a coin from the Harvard Art Museums, featuring Michael VII. It’s small, golden, and depicts what looks like two figures. What do you see in this piece, considering its historical and material context? Curator: Well, considering its function as currency, we must ask: Who controlled its production? The labor and resources invested in this object—gold, skilled artisans—speak volumes about Byzantine economic power. How did its materiality reinforce social hierarchies? Editor: That’s a good point. I hadn't considered the labor behind something so small. It makes me think about value in a different way.