Coin of Manuel I c. 12th century

Curator: Here at the Harvard Art Museums, we have "Coin of Manuel I," a bronze coin weighing 4.22 grams. Editor: The coin has a worn look, almost smoothed in places. I imagine the hands it passed through, the trades it facilitated... what stories it could tell. Curator: As a financial instrument authorized by Manuel I, it reflects the political and economic landscape of his reign. The imagery would have reinforced his authority and legitimacy. Editor: Right, we see these figures pressed into the metal–the labor, the skill involved! It’s not just money; it’s a testament to the material processes, to the value placed on craft within the Byzantine empire. Curator: Absolutely. And the coin's preservation, its journey through time, speaks to the enduring power of such artifacts in shaping our understanding of history. Editor: Yes, it makes you think about what we choose to preserve and what gets lost. What do our everyday objects say about us, centuries from now?