Coin 

Curator: What strikes me immediately is how worn down it is, almost smoothed by time and touch. Editor: This is a coin issued by the Byzantine Empire. It speaks volumes about the economics and culture of its time. Curator: Even in its worn state, I can still make out figures. Do you see how they evoke a sense of authority, even divinity? Editor: Absolutely. Coins weren’t just currency; they were propaganda. They circulated power, legitimizing rulers and empires. Curator: It's incredible to think of all the hands this small object passed through, the transactions it witnessed, each leaving its mark on its surface. Editor: Indeed, a tangible connection to a distant past, shaped by the forces of trade and political maneuvering. Curator: The coin is a humble, but powerful reminder of the symbols that outlast empires. Editor: And how artifacts, even the smallest, reflect complex socio-political structures.