Coin of Justinian I c. 533 - 537

Editor: Here we have a coin of Justinian I, weighing in at just over 15 grams. I'm struck by the contrast between the detailed portrait and the somewhat crude lettering on the reverse. How do you interpret this contrast? Curator: It's a fascinating juxtaposition, isn't it? The portrait, striving for that imperial gravitas, versus the coin's functional purpose. It makes me wonder, what did the average person, clutching this coin, think about the man whose face it bore? A god? A tyrant? Or just a name connected to their daily bread? Editor: That's a very interesting perspective. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. It's a humbling reminder that even the grandest symbols eventually end up in the hands of ordinary people, taking on new meanings with each exchange.