Tetarteron of Andronicos I, Constantinople c. 1183 - 1185

Curator: Here we have a Tetarteron of Andronikos I, from Constantinople, held within the Harvard Art Museums, and weighing just 2.46 grams. Editor: It's strikingly small, isn't it? The bronze and those turquoise inlays—they almost look like eyes staring back at us, quite haunting. Curator: The object's materiality speaks volumes; the base metal contrasting sharply with the precious inlays highlights the economic and social hierarchies of the Byzantine era. Editor: I see the composition as quite dynamic for such a small piece. The arrangement of the turquoise against the darker bronze creates a powerful visual tension. Curator: Indeed. The creation of such a coin reflects the social and economic realities of Andronikos I's reign, revealing much about the empire’s production and distribution of wealth. Editor: It's fascinating how such a tiny object embodies such grand ideas. Curator: It gives us a peek into the past.