Coin of Manuel I c. 12th century

Curator: This is a coin of Manuel I, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks so worn. The copper has acquired a beautiful, almost melancholic patina. Curator: Indeed. Consider how this humble object functioned within a specific socio-political and economic system. Currency literally represents power and control. Editor: Yes, but the degradation also makes me consider its material properties. The circular shape, the incised imagery—they create a cohesive visual language. Curator: The coin’s image, however eroded, conveys the legitimacy of Manuel's rule. Its circulation reinforced his authority. Editor: For me, its power lies in its formal elegance, despite its age. Curator: For me, it represents Manuel's influence and the Byzantine Empire's complex interplay of power and representation.