Stavraton of John V c. 1341 - 1391

Curator: This is a Stavraton, a Byzantine silver coin made during the reign of John V. We believe it weighs around 7.7 grams. Editor: There's an immediate sense of fragility, isn't there? Both the worn edges and the delicate, almost ghostly impression of the figures suggest vulnerability. Curator: Indeed. The Stavraton was introduced to address a currency crisis. Its production reveals economic instability during a turbulent period in Byzantine history. Think about the silversmiths, their labor, and the trade networks this coin represents. Editor: And the visual language itself speaks volumes. The iconographic representation of Christ on one side, the emperor on the other, compressed into this small circular format. It's a study in power and divinity, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Absolutely. It is a potent reminder that objects like this reflect the socio-political landscape of the time. Editor: It invites us to contemplate about the exchange of power in a tangible way, both in the past and even today.