Coin of Manuel I c. 12th century

Editor: This is a coin of Manuel I, and it looks pretty worn. I wonder what stories this small object could tell. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see the residue of power and the narratives it perpetuates. Coins weren't just currency; they were tools of propaganda, projecting the image and authority of the ruler throughout the Byzantine empire. Editor: Propaganda, even on something so small? Curator: Absolutely. Who was being represented on these coins, and who was being excluded? These seemingly insignificant objects reveal who held power and whose stories mattered. It makes me wonder how these images were used to influence people's perceptions and beliefs. Editor: That’s a really interesting way of looking at it! So much is communicated through these images! Curator: Exactly! It encourages us to think critically about whose stories are being told and whose are being erased.