Politikon of John V c. 1341 - 1391

Editor: This is a Politikon of John V, its age unknown, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like a humble, timeworn coin, a silent witness to bygone eras. What stories do you see etched into its surface? Curator: Ah, yes, a tiny portal to Byzantium! I see the wear of countless transactions, the ghost of a merchant's touch. It’s not just metal; it’s a tangible link to an empire's pulse, its economic lifeblood flowing through this small disc. Can you imagine what it might have bought? Editor: Maybe a loaf of bread, or a trinket at the market? I never thought about a coin being a time capsule. Curator: Exactly! And that, my friend, is where the magic lies. It makes you wonder about the dreams and daily struggles of people so long gone, doesn’t it? Editor: It really does. Thanks for the journey.