Asper of Manuel I of Trebizond c. 1237 - 1263

Editor: This is the Asper of Manuel I of Trebizond, a small, worn coin currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The images are hard to make out, but it appears to depict figures. What can you tell me about its materiality and context? Curator: Look closely at the striking of the coin: the material, the wear, and the imperfections are not flaws but rather records of its journey through economic systems and social exchanges. How do these tangible qualities affect your understanding of its historical significance? Editor: It makes me think about all the hands it passed through, and how the figures might have been perceived then versus now. Curator: Precisely! The coin isn't just currency; it's a material embodiment of power, trade, and even artistic skill within a specific historical framework. Editor: That's a totally different way of looking at it. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's a privilege to consider how the means of production and the economics affect the art.