Half-Stavraton of John V c. 1341 - 1391

Curator: Here we have a Half-Stavraton, a coin issued by John V, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums and weighing 4.09 grams. Editor: Its aged copper surface, now textured with a teal patina, gives it a weathered, almost dreamlike quality. The impressions feel worn. Curator: Consider the physical labor embedded within this small object: from mining the metals to striking the image, this represents Byzantine imperial power made tangible. Editor: Yes, the interplay between the incised figuration and the coin's circular format echoes larger concerns with depicting power in a limited space. Curator: And the fact that its materiality directly reflects its function – a medium for economic exchange, taxation, and tribute. A material signifier of wealth. Editor: I suppose the scale then becomes more intimate than grand, inviting the viewer to contemplate the minute details that contribute to its symbolic resonance. Curator: Precisely. The coin’s condition offers a glimpse into the material realities of its use and circulation within the Byzantine world. Editor: It is amazing how such a humble artifact can still speak volumes across the centuries.