Clipped Silver Asper of John II of Trebizond 1280 - 1297

Curator: What strikes me is the palpable history embedded in this Clipped Silver Asper of John II of Trebizond, currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's fragmentary, isn't it? Almost ghostly. The silver's wear speaks volumes about circulation and perhaps even scarcity. It makes you wonder who handled it, and what debts it settled. Curator: Precisely! Its material tells the story of the Komnenos dynasty’s economic strategies, the politics of coin production, and its impact on trade. Editor: Beyond the economic, this coin’s imagery likely reinforced the ruler’s legitimacy. How did its use shape subjects’ perceptions of power, divine right, and social hierarchy? Curator: The coin's physical clipping speaks to the realities of its economic function. Editor: Yes, considering the coin’s journey, it’s fascinating how a small piece of metal can embody such complex social narratives. Curator: Absolutely, examining it through both material analysis and historical context provides a fuller understanding. Editor: Indeed, allowing us to connect its past existence to our present understanding.