Harvard's $27 Magna Carta Copy Revealed as $21M Original

Above: The Magna Carta, issued by Edward I in 1300, now in the Harvard law school library. Image copyright: Lorin Granger/Harvard Law School via the BBC

The Spin

Narrative A

The timing of this discovery is particularly significant as it reinforces the fundamental principles of institutional autonomy and protection against arbitrary state intervention. At a moment when Harvard faces unprecedented government pressure over campus policies, this document serves as a potent reminder that even state authorities must operate within legal boundaries.

Narrative B

The document's relatively modest preservation and cataloging over decades at Harvard demonstrates how even the most valuable historical artifacts can be overlooked in institutional collections. This oversight has potentially cost the university millions in proper valuation and conservation efforts, highlighting the need for more rigorous authentication processes in academic archives.

Metaculus Prediction


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