Copper Trachy Class 15 of Michael VIII c. 13th century

Curator: This is a copper trachy, a coin from the reign of Michael VIII. It's currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks battered but sturdy, that dark copper hinting at centuries of handling. Curator: Absolutely. Coins like this were so much more than mere currency. They were instruments of power, laden with symbolism meant to legitimize the ruler. Editor: And of course, the material itself speaks to power dynamics. Copper's accessibility meant wider circulation, directly impacting the daily lives of ordinary people. Curator: Consider the imagery here: the cross, the ruler’s image. Each carefully chosen to project an aura of divine right and imperial strength. What social narratives were being reinforced through this small object? Editor: I'm thinking about the hands that mined the copper, the artisans who struck the die, the merchants who traded with it. Each interaction shaped not just the coin, but society. Curator: Indeed. By examining the coin, we can better understand the complex intersection of faith, authority, and everyday life in the Byzantine world. Editor: A humble coin, heavy with meaning. Curator: Precisely, a portal into a time of shifting powers.