Tremissis of Maurice Tiberius, Constantinople c. 583s - 593s

This is a Tremissis coin of Maurice Tiberius, crafted in Constantinople. The dense, circular form is immediately striking. The material from which it is made catches the light, reflecting a metallic sheen that dominates the senses. The coin is divided into two sides, each bearing distinct yet related imagery. One side features the profile of Maurice Tiberius, carefully etched, with the aim to assert power and imperial authority. Turn the coin over, and a cross dominates the design. The placement of the Christian symbol within the formal composition offers a semiotic system of signs, intertwining political power with divine mandate. Note that the coin’s circular form creates a sense of wholeness and continuity, visually suggesting the unending reign and influence it seeks to represent. The interplay between the material value of the gold and the symbolic weight of its iconography creates meaning, reflecting the complex dynamics of power and belief in the Byzantine world.