Trachy of John III Vatatzes, Nikaia c. 1248

Editor: This is a Trachy, a coin, by John III Vatatzes, and although undated, it is from Nikaia. It looks like silver. The figures are so stylized, like elongated shadows of Byzantine royalty. What's your interpretation of this piece? Curator: It whispers tales of empire and resilience, doesn't it? I'm drawn to the way the figures, rendered with such purposeful rigidity, yet seem to float in time. What do you think the symbolism of the two figures standing together might be? Editor: Stability? Legitimacy? Curator: Precisely! It's fascinating how something so small can carry so much weight, both literally and metaphorically. It almost feels like holding a piece of a lost world in your hands. Editor: Definitely makes you think about the stories these coins could tell! Curator: Indeed!