Stavraton of John V c. 1341 - 1391

Editor: Here we have the Stavraton of John V, author unknown, residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It's weighty at 8.18 grams and depicts an icon on a coin, what can you tell me about it? Curator: The Stavraton, minted during John V's reign, speaks volumes about power, identity, and crisis in the late Byzantine Empire. This coin, circulated amidst political turmoil and economic instability, served as a visual declaration of imperial authority. Consider the weight of this coin, literally and figuratively. Editor: Interesting, can you elaborate? Curator: Absolutely, the images on the coin are crucial. How do they portray the emperor, and what symbols are employed? Think about the messages they were meant to convey to the people. This also speaks to issues of cultural survival during crisis. What does the coin tell us about the Byzantine's relationship to power, identity, and their own endurance? Editor: That makes me wonder about the exchange between image and state power and how it reflects the culture of the time. Curator: Exactly! It's an artifact deeply embedded in its socio-political context.