Coin of Phokas c. 603 - 604

Curator: The "Coin of Phokas," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums, presents itself as a small yet weighty artifact, literally, at just under 10 grams. Editor: There’s an immediate aura of authority radiating from this coin. The figures, though worn, stand rigidly, symbols of power meticulously rendered. Curator: As currency, its base metal composition speaks volumes about the economic realities of Phokas's reign, a period of instability. The coin served a purpose—facilitating exchange, greasing the wheels of commerce. Editor: The imagery itself is fascinating. The cross above, the figures flanking what appears to be an altar—it all points to the intertwined nature of religious and secular power. The coin becomes a miniature stage for enacting ideology. Curator: Exactly, and the mass production of such objects implies a system of labor. Who were the people minting these coins? What were their working conditions? Such questions push us beyond the surface. Editor: A vital point. These symbols, replicated ad infinitum, acted as constant reminders. A quiet, everyday propaganda, if you will. Curator: Considering its materiality and dissemination alongside its symbolic purpose offers a richer appreciation. Editor: It truly does, and it makes me contemplate the lasting power of simple images.