Coin of Alexios III 12th-13th century

Editor: This is a coin of Alexios III. Looking at its worn surface, I wonder about the hands that exchanged it, the political climate it circulated within. What do you see in this piece? Curator: More than currency, it's a materialized ideology. The ruler's image, however degraded, signifies power and legitimacy, but also raises critical questions about economic disparity and control. Consider the coin's journey - who benefited, and who was marginalized by its use? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It's a small object, but it speaks to larger social inequalities. Curator: Precisely. Every artifact carries embedded narratives of power and resistance.