Coin of Constantine VII c. 945 - 950

Curator: Here we have a coin of Constantine VII, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. It offers a tangible link to the Byzantine Empire. Editor: Wow, it looks like it has been through a lot! I wonder what stories it could tell if it could speak. It gives off such a weathered and resilient vibe. Curator: Indeed! Coins like this served not only as currency but also as propaganda tools. The imagery and inscriptions were carefully chosen to project imperial power and legitimacy. Editor: It is incredible to think that something so small could carry such weight. I am curious about who held it and what it bought. I think that it represents the human desire for connection and communication across time. Curator: Absolutely, and as we consider it as an object, its circulation and usage in society shed light on broader socio-economic dynamics and political power structures of the Byzantine world. Editor: I love how this coin lets me imagine the hands that exchanged it. It is a humbling, tangible reminder of our shared human story.