Trachy Type B of Theodore I, Nicaea c. 1205 - 1221

Curator: This is a coin, "Trachy Type B of Theodore I, Nicaea," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What immediately strikes me is the worn texture and the subtle curvature of the coin. There’s a delicate quality to the relief, despite the wear. Curator: Indeed. As currency issued by Theodore I during the Empire of Nicaea, this piece tells us much about the political and economic conditions of the time. The imagery served as a form of propaganda. Editor: Looking at the figures, the artist employed a rather flattened perspective. There's a pronounced frontality that emphasizes the divine authority represented. Curator: Precisely. The coin served as a visual symbol of imperial power during a fragmented era. It's a testament to how art and governance intertwined. Editor: I find it fascinating how such a small object holds such immense historical weight, now transformed into an artifact for contemplation.