Aspron Trachy Nomisma of Manuel I, Constantinople 1143 - 1152

Editor: Here we have the Aspron Trachy Nomisma of Manuel I from Constantinople, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a coin, so I guess the material is the point? What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: We see a coin, yes, but let's consider its broader economic and social function. The material, the silver alloy, and the labor involved in its production tells us much about the Byzantine economy under Manuel I. What does its degraded condition suggest about its circulation and use? Editor: It does look worn. Like it actually *did* its job, not just sat in a display. So, it's not just about the art, it's about what it *did*? Curator: Precisely. It's a window into the material conditions of its time: trade routes, labor practices, and the daily lives of those who used it. Editor: That's a totally different way to look at something like this. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's all about understanding the forces that shaped its creation and consumption.