Half-Stavraton of Manuel II c. 1391 - 1425

Curator: Here we have a Half-Stavraton of Manuel II from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small, silver coin bearing what appears to be a highly stylized imperial portrait. Editor: My first thought is that it feels haunting. The silver is worn, the figures are barely legible, yet the weight of history is palpable. Curator: Absolutely. Think of what this object represented. It wasn’t merely currency, but the enduring image of the emperor, a symbol of power and continuity amid the slow decline of Byzantium. Editor: I'm struck by the level of abstraction. The geometric shapes and lines are almost hieroglyphic. One must really search to find the face, the crown. Curator: The imagery connects to a long line of imperial iconography. The rendering of the emperor, however simplified, invokes a lineage stretching back to Rome. Editor: It's remarkable how such a diminutive object can contain such a potent blend of artistic intention, cultural significance, and emotional resonance. Curator: Indeed. The Half-Stavraton serves as a tangible reminder of the ways that symbols shape our understanding of the past. Editor: And how artistic form transmits cultural memory, even in the most humble of materials.