Coin of Manuel I c. 12th century

Curator: Here we have a “Coin of Manuel I,” held in the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Well, my first impression is of something incredibly tactile, but also worn down. It exudes an almost somber, ancient feeling. Curator: Indeed. Notice how the artist, Manuel I, has meticulously divided the coin's surfaces into distinct pictorial fields. We have a figure on one side and an emblem on the other. Editor: The cross with the symbols around it immediately speaks to the power and authority of the Byzantine Empire. It also suggests complex layers of meaning tied to spiritual and earthly power. Curator: Absolutely. And observe how the figure, presumably Manuel himself, is rendered with a rigid symmetry, emphasizing hierarchy and order. Editor: The weight of history, of empires and beliefs, is etched into this tiny object. It's quite evocative. Curator: Yes, a small object speaking volumes about artistic intention and material construction. Editor: A reminder that symbols outlive their creators.