Half-Stavraton of Manuel II c. 1391 - 1425

Curator: Up next, we have the "Half-Stavraton of Manuel II" currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is that it resembles a ghostly echo of power, worn smooth by the relentless river of time. Curator: Crafted from precious metal, perhaps silver, it served as currency, yes, but also as a potent symbol of imperial authority. Editor: Precisely! Think of the miners, smelters, and die-makers involved in its creation. What were their lives like? Their labor, literally pressed into this coin. Curator: The details of the emperor's depiction are faded, yet his visage is still discernible, offering a glimpse into the aesthetics and beliefs of that era. Editor: And now, it invites us to consider not just the emperor, but also the collective effort and material realities that underpinned his reign. Curator: A humble coin, transformed into a portal through which we can view the past from multiple perspectives. Editor: Indeed, reminding us how the grandest empires rest upon the most granular of human endeavors.