Silver Token of Andronikos II and Michael IX c. 1294 - 1320

Curator: This small silver token, attributed to Andronikos II, depicts him and his son Michael IX. It's incredibly tactile; you can almost feel the weight and history in your hand. Editor: It's heavy with symbolic weight, for sure. The wear and tear also speak volumes about its journey through time. Curator: Absolutely. As a piece of currency, this token highlights the Byzantine empire's economic and political systems. Currency was a potent tool to demonstrate power. Editor: And also to project an image. I’m interested in how Andronikos II chose to represent himself alongside his son. What did that signify about succession? Curator: It’s a very deliberate act of political messaging. It aimed to reassure the public about the stability of the dynasty and continuity of power. Editor: Right, but it also brings up questions about how successful they were in controlling the narrative. Whose voices were excluded from this picture? Curator: That's the point, isn't it? It invites us to unpack the layers of power dynamics within the empire. Editor: Indeed. Something so small holds so much history.