Half-Stavraton of Manuel II c. 1391 - 1425

Curator: Looking at this Half-Stavraton of Manuel II, currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums and weighing under 3 grams, I'm struck by the intimacy of something so small intended for such broad use. Editor: Immediately, I notice the wear and tear. You can feel the weight of history, not just in the material itself, but in how it’s been handled and circulated, telling a story of power, trade, and perhaps even resistance. Curator: Indeed. Think of the labor involved: mining, refining, striking... each step a social and economic transaction, with the coin as the physical embodiment of that labor. Editor: And what about the iconography? The representation of Manuel II himself, carefully crafted to project authority in a time of political and social upheaval within the Byzantine Empire? It's not just about currency, it's about control. Curator: Absolutely. And considering its circulation, who touched it? How did it impact their lives, their transactions, their perceptions of power? Editor: Exactly. It's a tiny object, but a powerful lens for understanding the complexities of its time. I find it rather humbling. Curator: Agreed. A fascinating glimpse into the materiality of power and its ripple effects.