Coin of Manuel I c. 1152 - 1160

Editor: Here we have a coin of Manuel I from the Harvard Art Museums. It's small, dark, and worn. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider the coin's weight, 5.75 grams. What can that tell us about the economic and social value placed on the material itself, the metal, and the labor involved in its production? The wear also shows us how it was used, circulated, and consumed within its society. Editor: That's interesting. I never thought about a coin that way. It's like a tiny monument to labor and exchange. Curator: Exactly! Think of it as a physical manifestation of social structures. By studying its materiality, we gain insight into the culture that produced and used it. Editor: I'll definitely look at coins differently now. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's all about understanding the story that materials can tell.