One-Eighth Stavraton of Manuel II c. 1391 - 1425

Editor: This is a one-eighth stavraton coin of Manuel II, from the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite small, and the images are worn. What symbols or meanings do you see embedded within it? Curator: The coin's imagery, though faded, speaks volumes. Consider the cross, a potent symbol across Byzantium, signaling spiritual authority and divine protection. What psychological impact might such imagery have on the user? Editor: I imagine it gave them a sense of security and connection to something bigger than themselves. Curator: Precisely. Even the ruler's portrait, though degraded, is a symbol of temporal power, linking the coin to the emperor's legitimacy. It reminds us that even small objects can carry heavy symbolic weight. Editor: That's fascinating. I'll definitely look at coins differently now. Curator: Indeed. Symbols persist because they tap into our shared cultural memory.