Copper Trachy of Alexios III of Trebizond c. 1349 - 1390

Editor: This is a Copper Trachy, a coin by Alexios III of Trebizond. The wear makes it hard to see, but there's a figure on one side and what looks like a double-headed eagle on the other. What symbolic meanings were important here? Curator: The double-headed eagle is fascinating. It signifies not just power, but the duality of Alexios's rule - perhaps both earthly and divine authority, or his reach over both Europe and Asia. Does it suggest anything about cultural memory to you? Editor: Maybe it’s linking him to the Byzantine emperors who came before. It's a bold statement for a smaller empire. Curator: Exactly. The imagery evokes a grander legacy. It's a visual claim to a shared heritage, a way to participate in a powerful narrative. Editor: I didn't realize a coin could hold so much history. Curator: Coins are never just currency. They are potent symbols, miniature billboards of their time.