Stavraton of John V c. 1341 - 1391

Curator: Here we have the Stavraton of John V, attributed to John V himself, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's quite small, but the detail is impressive. There's a worn, almost ghostly quality to the figures depicted on each side. Curator: Indeed. These images are deeply symbolic. One side likely represents Christ, the other probably Emperor John V himself, each enclosed within beaded borders – markers of the sacred and sovereign. Editor: The linear quality of the engraving, the weight, the worn materiality; it all speaks to an artifact undergoing change. There is some clear formal symmetry within the composition of both faces of the coin. Curator: The deliberate, careful etching embodies cultural values, linking the ruler to divine authority, reinforcing his legitimacy through enduring symbols. Editor: I find that focusing on the line quality draws me into thoughts of temporality, and reminds me how objects hold different meanings at different times. Curator: It's remarkable how much cultural memory can be compressed into such a small object. Editor: Yes, seeing the construction itself gives new perspectives.