Pentanummium of Justin I, Constantinople 518 - 527

Editor: Here we have a small bronze coin, a Pentanummium of Justin I from Constantinople. Seeing its worn surface, I wonder about the hands it passed through. What can we learn from its materiality? Curator: Precisely. Consider the base metal itself. Bronze coinage speaks volumes about the Byzantine economy and access to resources. How does the debasement of materials reflect the empire's fiscal pressures? Editor: So, the metal content tells a story beyond the ruler's image? Curator: Absolutely. This coin’s materiality, its production, and its circulation represent the labor and economic conditions of the time. It is not just about the Emperor, but the system that sustains him. What can its weight and size suggest about trade and daily transactions? Editor: I hadn't considered the coin as a record of economic activity! This adds a whole new dimension to understanding it. Curator: Indeed, examining such an everyday object provides crucial insights into the broader context of Byzantine society.