Stavraton of John V c. 1341 - 1391

Editor: This is the Stavraton of John V, a small coin in the Harvard Art Museums, created by John V himself. It looks pretty worn, but I can make out the figures… What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s fascinating how a simple image on a coin can carry so much weight. Notice how the figures, likely Christ and the Emperor, are flattened, almost iconic. What emotions do these familiar figures evoke for you, rendered so plainly? Editor: I guess a sense of timelessness? It’s like a direct connection to the past. Curator: Exactly! It’s about cultural memory, visual symbols that have resonated for centuries, embodying power, divinity, and the enduring human need for meaning. Editor: I never thought about a coin in that way before. Curator: Images are rarely ever "just images".