Tetarteron of Alexios III c. 14th century

Editor: This is a Tetarteron coin, of Alexios III. Considering its age, it's in pretty rough shape, but you can still make out the figures. What story does a piece like this tell us, beyond just economics? Curator: Coins are powerful symbols, aren't they? They weren't just currency; they were carefully designed propaganda. Consider who is depicted, and how. What does it tell us about the power dynamics of the Byzantine Empire, about Alexios's self-image and the messages he wanted to convey to his subjects? Editor: So, it's less about the value of the gold and more about the value of the image? Curator: Exactly! Think about whose stories are told through these objects and whose are silenced. It's about unpacking the layers of meaning embedded in something as seemingly simple as a coin. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks! Curator: It's all about seeing art as a reflection of the society that created it.