Copper Assarion of John V c. 1341 - 1391

Curator: Looking at this copper coin, the "Assarion of John V" from the Harvard Art Museums, I can't help but feel the weight of history in its tiny, worn form. Editor: It’s so small! The immediate impression is of something incredibly intimate, almost secretive, whispering stories of a long-lost empire. Curator: It's striking how these symbols, stamped on such a modest object, were meant to project power. The image of the emperor and the religious iconography... Editor: Religious iconography always gets me. Even in this fragmented state, there is something powerful about the faith being projected out to the subjects of the empire. Curator: Indeed. And it's amazing to think about the sheer number of hands this little coin must have passed through. Editor: Yes, the journey it must have had is mind-boggling! It’s really lovely to think about the emotional weight such a small thing could carry throughout time. Curator: Absolutely. Its survival speaks volumes. Editor: A tiny talisman of time. I love that.