Coin of Constantine VII c. 945 - 959

Editor: Here we have a gold coin of Constantine VII from the Harvard Art Museums. It’s incredible to think about the power concentrated within this tiny object. What stories does this coin tell about the Byzantine Empire? Curator: This coin acted as a crucial propaganda tool. The imagery, likely carefully controlled, served to reinforce the emperor’s divine right to rule and project an image of power and stability. Consider how the choice of gold itself, and the depicted symbols, would have been understood by the public. What statements were they making? Editor: So, its value wasn't just monetary, but also symbolic. It makes you wonder about the messages we embed in our currency today. Curator: Exactly. Examining this coin allows us to understand how political authority was constructed and disseminated through art. A potent reminder of the intersection between art, power, and public perception.