Cast of a Milaresion of Romanos III by Romanos III

c. 11th century

Cast of a Milaresion of Romanos III

Listen to curator's interpretation

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Curatorial notes

Editor: This is a cast of a Milaresion, made by Romanos III. Looking at the object, I am curious about the figures on the coin, and their possible importance. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: It whispers of power, doesn't it? A Byzantine emperor immortalized in silver. But more than just a portrait, it's a statement. See how Christ is depicted alongside Romanos? It’s about legitimizing his reign through divine association, and that's pretty powerful stuff. Editor: Divine association... I hadn't considered that. It's fascinating how a simple coin can hold so much meaning. Curator: Absolutely! It makes you wonder what messages we’re embedding in our currency today, doesn't it?