Coin of Isaac II c. 1185 - 1195

Curator: This is a coin of Isaac II, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, I see the weight of history, not just in its age, but in the very material. It feels heavy, doesn't it? Curator: It does. And consider the engraving, the detail they achieved on something weighing just 3.66 grams. Look at the cross. Editor: Yes, the strong vertical lines offer a counterpoint to the coin's circumference, suggesting perhaps the stability of faith amidst the flux of earthly power. Curator: Or, thinking more practically, the deliberate artistry might've been to ensure recognition and ward off counterfeiting. Editor: Possibly. But I see artistry in service of power and belief, even in something so small. Curator: I suppose we see what we wish to see. The coin reflects both faith and daily use, power and its slow erosion. Editor: A small object with a whole world inside it!