Coin of Manuel I c. 12th century

Curator: At first glance, it feels like a relic from a dream, doesn't it? A nugget of sun, unearthed and whispering stories of power. Editor: Indeed. We’re looking at a gold coin commissioned by Manuel I. Its weight is just over four grams. It's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Curator: Gold, of course, speaks to inherent value, but the imagery feels almost... theatrical. The Emperor himself, immortalized, but with such a uniquely stylized air! Editor: The symbols are so rich. The Emperor, of course, is claiming divine authority. Note the patriarchal cross, the inscription naming him, all meant to project legitimacy and enduring power. Curator: It's more than just currency; it's a carefully constructed image, a piece of Byzantine PR! I love imagining whose hands it passed through. What dramas it witnessed. Editor: Absolutely. It’s a tiny window into a world obsessed with both material wealth and spiritual authority, cleverly fused into a single, shining object.