Aspron Trachy Nomisma of Alexios III, Constantinople 1197 - 1203

Curator: Well, hello there. This is the Aspron Trachy Nomisma of Alexios III, a coin originating from Constantinople. Editor: Wow, it looks like it's been on quite a journey. All weathered and a bit green, like a tiny, ancient treasure unearthed. Curator: It certainly has. The imagery would have been instantly recognizable to the people of the Byzantine Empire, laden with religious and imperial symbolism. Editor: I can almost feel the weight of those symbols – the emperor, the religious figures… It's like holding a miniature piece of their world, their beliefs. Makes you think about how potent a simple image can be, right? Curator: Absolutely. A single coin was not just currency, but a vessel carrying the cultural memory and the political power of Byzantium. Editor: I see the past in this little coin...it makes me wonder what we are minting now that will have this kind of symbolic staying power.