Coin of Manuel I c. 12th century

Editor: Here we have a coin, attributed to Manuel I, located at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite small and worn. What stories does this little coin hold? Curator: A coin like this isn't just currency; it's a powerful symbol of imperial authority and economic control. Consider the imagery—likely a religious figure on one side and the ruler's mark on the other. How might these images legitimize power structures of the time? Editor: I guess it's like propaganda, embedding the ruler's image and ideology into everyday life? Curator: Precisely! And the coin's materiality—its metal content and weight—speaks to trade routes, resource extraction, and the exploitation of labor. What does it mean when value is literally stamped onto a thing? Editor: That's a lot to unpack from something so small! I never thought about it that way before. Curator: Coins provide a tangible entry point into larger conversations about power, representation, and economic disparity.