Politikon of John V c. 1341 - 1391

Editor: Here we have the "Politikon of John V," a small, unassuming coin held at the Harvard Art Museums. What I find interesting is its size and the evidence of wear. How can we interpret this object? Curator: We should consider how this coin functions within a broader economic and social system. The act of minting itself reflects political power, while the wear suggests circulation, labor, and exchange. What was the value of the metal itself, and how did that relate to its face value? Editor: That's a great point. So, it's not just about the imagery, but the entire process of its creation and use? Curator: Precisely. Think about the labor involved in mining the metal, the skill of the artisan who created the die, and the hands it passed through. The coin tells a material story of its time. Editor: This gives me a totally new appreciation for something I would have considered just a trinket. Curator: It invites us to look past the surface and consider the intricate networks of production and consumption that underpinned Byzantine society.