Copper Assarion Class 3 of Andronikos III, Constantinople c. 1328 - 1341

Editor: This copper coin, a class 3 Assarion, features Andronikos III, Constantinople. It’s a small, humble object, but it feels like it holds so much history. What do you see in it? Curator: I see a visual echo of power, a symbolic contraction. The effigy, though worn, speaks of imperial authority, Byzantine ideals of leadership, faith, and permanence rendered in miniature. The coin’s purpose was transactional, but what memories did it carry, what hopes did it represent? Editor: So, it’s more than just money? Curator: Precisely. The imagery reflects Byzantium's self-image, a cultural and religious identity communicated through symbols. Each scratch and imperfection tells a silent story. What do you think it says? Editor: It makes me think about how even the smallest objects can be powerful communicators of culture. Curator: Indeed, a potent reminder that images shape us, even on the coins we handle daily.