Coin of Manuel I c. 12th century

Editor: Here we have a coin of Manuel I, weighing just over two grams. It's incredible to think about all the hands this little disc has passed through. What stories do you see embedded in its surface? Curator: Well, it feels like holding a memory, doesn't it? Look at the wear and tear. It speaks of empires rising and falling, of trade routes humming with life, and perhaps a few pockets it warmed along the way. It’s like a tiny time capsule, whispering secrets. Editor: A time capsule – I like that. So much history packed into something so small. Curator: Precisely. It makes you wonder, what will our currency say about us centuries from now? Editor: That gives me a lot to think about! Curator: Me too.