Coin of Manuel I c. 12th century

Editor: Here we have a "Coin of Manuel I," creator also Manuel I. What's so remarkable about a coin? It's easy to overlook, but each one's a tiny portal to a different time. What whispers do you hear when you look at this piece? Curator: It's like holding history in your hand, isn’t it? I see echoes of power, faith, and the everyday lives of people who handled this very coin. The wear and tear tell a silent story of exchange, of hands passing it along through markets and transactions. What do you make of the imagery itself? Editor: It's incredibly detailed for such a small space! Seeing the ruler's portrait immortalized like this makes you think about how leaders try to control their image, even back then. Curator: Exactly! Even the smallest coin was a carefully crafted message. It makes you wonder what narratives we're embedding in our own everyday objects. Editor: So true! Thanks, I'll definitely be looking at coins in a whole new way from now on.