Coin of John I Tzimiskes, Cherson 969 - 976

Editor: This small coin, attributed to John I Tzimiskes, was found in Cherson. It's currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: Immediately, the coin's circular format strikes me as fundamentally symbolic—a microcosm reflecting power and authority. The central motifs, though eroded, suggest a deliberate, ordered composition. Editor: The wear and tear speak volumes about circulation and exchange, both economic and cultural. Consider the labor involved in mining, smelting, and striking these objects. Curator: True, but even in its abraded state, the coin presents a coherent visual language. Note the bas-relief, the way the designs interact with the coin’s edge—a deliberate aesthetic choice. Editor: More than aesthetic, I think. The material itself, likely bronze, reflects the economic resources and metallurgical expertise of the Byzantine empire at this time. Curator: Perhaps. But I remain drawn to the formal arrangement, the echoes of imperial iconography within its circular boundary. It's a concentrated visual statement. Editor: And I'm reminded of all the hands this passed through, a tangible connection to the past through material and making.