Half-Stavraton of Manuel II c. 1391 - 1425

Curator: This is a Half-Stavraton, a coin crafted by Manuel II, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks rather weathered, doesn't it? The details are softened, giving it a somber, almost ghostly presence. Curator: Precisely. The surface texture speaks to the coin's journey through time, hinting at its material vulnerability. Editor: The images themselves also appear deliberate. The ruler's portrait and the religious iconography would have been immediately recognizable as symbols of power and divine right. Curator: Indeed, one side shows the emperor and the other a symbolic representation, meant to cement his authority and legacy within the socio-political landscape. Editor: It's a poignant reminder that even the most powerful figures are eventually reduced to objects for historical analysis. Curator: Yes, a potent testament to the passage of time and the enduring power of symbolic representation. Editor: Thank you, I find the way that these objects bear witness to history truly fascinating.