Dodecanummium of Justinian I c. 527 - 565

Curator: This is a Dodecanummium coin, attributed to Justinian I, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. It weighs a mere 5.65 grams. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It feels like a tiny window into a vast empire. The patina evokes a sense of time, like it's carrying stories within the verdigris. Curator: Absolutely. These small denominations were the lifeblood of the Byzantine economy. They touched so many hands, a king’s face in everyone's pocket. Editor: Exactly. And seeing Justinian I, a ruler who codified laws and expanded the empire, reduced to this humble, almost anonymous form… it really underscores the power dynamics at play. Curator: Indeed. It's a reminder that even the most powerful figures are eventually subject to the relentless march of time, just like this coin. Editor: And it encourages us to think about the enduring impact of even the smallest artifacts. It provokes a dialogue between grand narratives and the individual lives they affect. Curator: A profound takeaway from something so small. Editor: Precisely. A little coin, a whole world.