Basilicon of Andronikos II c. 1282 - 1328

Editor: This is a Basilicon of Andronikos II, a small coin now residing in the Harvard Art Museums. It’s amazing to think of the hands this little piece of metal has passed through! What strikes you about its production and use? Curator: Well, consider the labor. Who mined the silver? Who designed the die? Who struck the coin? Each of these individuals contributed to its value and meaning within the Byzantine economy. How was it used in trade, and what social relationships did its circulation create or reinforce? Editor: That's fascinating! It is a tangible link to the Byzantine world and the hands that shaped it. Curator: Indeed, and the coin itself, as a material object, tells a story of power, trade, and everyday life.