Aspron Trachy Nomisma of Alexios III, Constantinople 1197 - 1203

Curator: This is an Aspron Trachy Nomisma of Alexios III, crafted in Constantinople. Editor: My initial sense is of something fractured, burdened—a tangible weight of history, literally. Curator: The coin’s form, almost biomorphic, resists perfect geometry. Note the deliberate cupping of the metal; this curvature affects how light plays across the surface, emphasizing its relief. Editor: Indeed, and the figures, though worn, still resonate. Royal and religious iconography blend, reinforcing earthly and divine authority, power as propaganda. Curator: The coin's materiality speaks volumes: the wear, the discoloration. Each mark is a testament to its circulation and the hands it passed through, evidence of economic and political exchange. Editor: It serves as a poignant reminder that even symbols of power are subject to erosion and change over time. A reflection on the ephemeral nature of earthly authority, perhaps?