Stavraton of John V c. 1341 - 1391

Editor: This is the Stavraton of John V, and it’s located here at the Harvard Art Museums. Given the wear and tear on the coin, it feels like such a tangible piece of history. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, considering that this was likely used as currency, it had direct implications for class and power. What do you make of the central figures depicted? Editor: One side seems to feature Jesus, but I can’t quite make out who’s on the other side. Curator: It's likely John V. As a symbol of the Byzantine empire, this coin embodies the relationship between earthly and divine power. Who do you think it served? Editor: I guess it served the elite but was used by the masses? Curator: Precisely. Currency like this offers a lens into economic and social inequalities, particularly considering who had access to it and the power dynamics it reinforced. Editor: That's a great point; I never really thought about a coin having so much social context. Curator: Exactly! Art exists within social, political, and historical frameworks, shaping and being shaped by societal structures.