Tetarteron of Alexios III c. 14th century

Editor: Here we have a Tetarteron of Alexios III from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small coin, dark and worn. What do you see in this piece, focusing on its formal qualities? Curator: The coin presents a compelling study in relief and recession. Note how the artist uses incuse lines to define form within such a limited space. The effigy of Alexios and the cross on the reverse are rendered with a stark, linear quality. Editor: So the incuse lines create the forms, despite the wear and tear? Curator: Precisely. Consider also the coin's shape: irregular, almost organic. This contrasts with the rigid, hierarchical imagery. A tension arises between the intended message of imperial authority and the material reality of the object. Editor: It’s interesting how the form reflects the content, even in its imperfection. Curator: Indeed, the physical form informs our understanding of the symbolic representation.