Coin of Justin II
Unknown Artist
6th century (572–573)
Medium
Copper alloy (card says bronze)
Dimensions
Overall: 13/16 x 1/8 in. (2.1 x 0.3 cm)
Classification
Coins
Culture
Byzantine
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Albert M. Lythgoe, 1917
Accession Number
17.6.95
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Coin of Justin II*, modest yet mighty artifact from the Byzantine Empire's6th century (struck in 572–573 CE). Crafted from copper alloy—often referred to as bronze—this tiny treasure measures just 13/16 x 1/8 inch (2.1 x 0.3 cm), small enough to slip into a pocket but emblematic of imperial power. Minted during the reign of Emperor Justin II (r. 565–578 CE), it served as everyday currency in Constantinople and beyond, blending Roman traditions with emerging Christian symbolism. Byzantine coins like this one were masterful tools of propaganda and economy. The obverse likely bore th...