Stavraton of Manuel II Palaiologos of Byzantium c. 1391 - 1425

Curator: Here we have the Stavraton, a coin created by Manuel II Palaiologos of Byzantium, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: The worn texture of this coin speaks volumes. I imagine the hands it passed through, the trades it facilitated...it’s a tangible link to the past. Curator: Indeed. Notice how the imagery on either side presents very specific archetypes; this coin isn’t just currency, it's a statement of imperial authority intertwined with religious endorsement. Editor: You can almost feel the labor in its creation, the individual strikes of the die...the material itself, likely silver, tells a story of trade routes and mining practices. Curator: Absolutely. The haloed figure connects Manuel to a lineage of divinely appointed rulers, drawing on the symbolic weight of Byzantium's history to legitimize his power. Editor: For me, holding this piece would be about connecting to the labor, the social and economic context, and the physicality of something so old. Curator: It’s a fascinating object, speaking to us of power, belief, and the enduring human need to imprint meaning onto the material world. Editor: Definitely something to reflect on, considering how the value of objects changes.