Stavraton of John V c. 1341 - 1391

Curator: This is a Stavraton of John V, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Examining this artifact, one is immediately struck by its weathered state. Editor: There's a palpable sense of history etched onto its surface; you can almost feel the weight of Byzantium and its struggles. Curator: Indeed. Consider the historical context: John V's reign was marked by political instability and economic decline. This coin, likely silver, would have been a tangible representation of the empire's dwindling power. Editor: The imagery, though worn, still speaks volumes. The iconography likely portrays Christ Pantocrator, a symbol of divine authority and Byzantine imperial ideology. Curator: We can read this coin as a contested object, revealing the intersections of power, religion, and economic hardship. A potent symbol of late Byzantine society. Editor: Precisely, and in its worn state, it serves as a somber reminder of temporal power and the endurance of faith.