Half-Stavraton of Manuel II c. 1391 - 1425

Curator: This is a Half-Stavraton, a coin crafted by Manuel II. It currently resides at the Harvard Art Museums, and weighs 3.99 grams. Editor: There's a profound weariness embedded in its patina; it feels like a tangible echo of empires past, doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. These coins were part of the Byzantine monetary system during Manuel II's reign and reveal a great deal about economic conditions, trade routes, and imperial power at the time. Editor: I'm struck by how a simple object like this can hold so many narratives. Just imagining it changing hands, witnessing history unfold... Curator: Precisely. Coins like these served as not just currency but as symbols of imperial authority, shaping identity and societal structures across the realm. Editor: It’s humbling to think that something so small once carried so much weight. Curator: Indeed. It makes you consider the silent witnesses all around us. Editor: A tiny, tarnished titan of tales!