Coin of Justinian II c. 705

Editor: Here we have a gold coin of Justinian II from the Harvard Art Museums. It's remarkable how such a small object can carry so much historical weight. What stories does it tell about the power and imagery of its time? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider how these coins functioned as propaganda. Justinian II’s image, stamped onto currency, circulated widely, projecting imperial authority and divine sanction. How do you think its reception might have varied across different social classes? Editor: I imagine the average person might have been more concerned with its monetary value, while the elites would recognize and perhaps scrutinize the symbolic messaging. Curator: Precisely. And the very act of depicting a ruler on a coin was a powerful statement about control and the projection of an image. It's a constant negotiation between the ruler and those being ruled. Thinking about it makes me reconsider the power of images, even today. Editor: I'll never look at pocket change the same way again.