Coin of Manuel I c. 12th century

Curator: Let's consider this coin of Manuel I, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. What's your first impression? Editor: Immediate visual impact—the weight of history. It feels incredibly tactile, almost demanding to be held. The patina whispers of empires. Curator: Indeed. Coins, especially those made under rulers like Manuel I, served not only as currency but also as potent propaganda. This object embodies the intersection of power, religion, and imperial identity. Editor: Absolutely. Note the imagery—the cross and what appears to be a figure. These symbols wouldn't merely convey value, but reinforce cultural and religious narratives, shaping the consciousness of the populace. Curator: By examining this coin, we confront the tangible legacy of Byzantine power structures and the ways in which gendered and class-based identities were reinforced. Editor: And through its symbols, we gain access to the emotional landscape of the time, its anxieties and aspirations, offering a rare glimpse into shared cultural memory. Curator: Exactly, this piece allows us to reflect on how material objects are not static but dynamic agents in shaping societal norms. Editor: It prompts a thought on how something so small once carried such significant symbolic weight, shaping the world around it.