Half-Stavraton of Manuel II c. 1391 - 1425

Editor: Here we have a Half-Stavraton of Manuel II. It's quite small, made of what looks like silver. The designs are worn, but they have a certain abstract quality. What stands out to you about its composition? Curator: The coin's visual impact lies precisely in that degradation. The worn surfaces and softened details invite us to consider the very nature of representation, of how an image persists, or fails to, over time through material transformation. What do you make of the incuse designs? Editor: They almost look like script and figures. So the incisions give it structure? Curator: Precisely. The incuse technique structures the entire aesthetic experience of the coin. It is a closed system. The coin’s value is thus both intrinsic and referential, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I see your point. It's more than just a coin, it's a study in form and decay. Curator: Indeed, it is.