Tetarteron of Michael VII Ducas and Maria of Alania c. 1071 - 1078

Curator: Here we have a Byzantine coin: the Tetarteron of Michael VII Ducas and Maria of Alania, a tiny golden window into a distant world. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by how the physical act of minting money—smashing dies into precious metal—creates a sort of raw, undeniable power. Curator: It is fascinating to consider its physical form. Think of the labor, the mines, the smelting. It’s all concentrated into this one disc representing imperial authority. Editor: Exactly! The imagery is fascinating: two figures united, perhaps reflecting the Byzantine preoccupation with order and divine mandate materialized through labor and resources. Curator: I see their rigid symmetry as a reflection of an internal tension, a balancing act between the earthly and the divine, as expressed in art and, of course, in political life. Editor: Maybe this coin helps us to examine how power, even portrayed as spiritual, always relies on the material constraints of production and circulation. Curator: It’s a sobering reminder that even spiritual aspirations are embedded in practical realities. Editor: Indeed; even the loftiest ideals have a price, stamped right here in gold.