This episode explores a massive bronze follis of Emperor Justinian I, struck at Nicomedia in AD 547–548, during the height of the Plague of Justinian. Justinian’s reign reshaped the Roman world through conquest, law, and monumental architecture, but it was also defined by war, economic strain, and pandemic. This oversized 40 nummi follis—featuring Justinian in military dress and the bold M denomination—was struck as the empire struggled to maintain order amid catastrophe. Referenced as Sear Byzantine Coins 201 (DOC 25), this coin is a powerful reminder of how imperial authority was projected in bronze during one of history’s most challenging eras.