Trachy Type B of Theodore I, Nicaea c. 1205 - 1221

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this fascinating piece, a Trachy Type B coin from the era of Theodore I of Nicaea. The coin, weighing in at 4.15 grams, resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Well, right off the bat, I'm struck by its sort of…worn grandeur. Like a little nugget of history, weathered by time but still carrying echoes of power. Curator: Indeed. Notice the deliberate stylization and the shallow relief, typical of Byzantine coinage of this period. We can see an image, possibly of Christ, depicted on one side. The lines are clean, and the figures are frontal and symmetrical. Editor: I feel a sense of mystery, trying to decipher those tiny figures. It's like holding a secret message from centuries ago. Curator: Exactly. The coin's very form, that concave shape, speaks volumes about the minting techniques of the time. Editor: And the fact that it survived? That's the real art, isn't it? The persistence of stories. Curator: A compelling thought. It's a testament to the enduring allure of art and history itself.