Asper of John II of Trebizond c. 1280 - 1297

Curator: Here we have an Asper of John II of Trebizond, a coin from the medieval empire, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, it looks like something a pirate captain would carry! All battered and worn, but still holding some kind of power. Curator: Indeed. These coins offer fascinating insights into the political and religious iconography of the Byzantine successor states. John II Komnenos, depicted here, ruled a fractured world. The imagery, then, becomes critical. Editor: It feels less about wealth and more about... survival? Like, this little piece of metal carried a whole empire's hopes and fears. Makes you think, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely. The coin served as a constant reminder of authority and divine right to rule, during a time of social upheaval. Editor: Holding that in your pocket – you'd be reminded of history, of faith, of your place in it all... fascinating. I'll remember that image.