Copper Trachy of John Asen I c. 12th century

Curator: Here we have a Copper Trachy of John Asen I, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs just under 3 grams. Editor: Its worn surface and diminutive scale create a palpable sense of history, of lives lived and economies enacted through this very object. Curator: Indeed. The imagery, though faded, speaks volumes about rulership and power in the Bulgarian Empire. Note how the figures are positioned, likely invoking religious authority. Editor: The bas-relief is so shallow, nearly flattened. The artist has clearly prioritized the symbolic representation of form over any illusion of depth. Curator: The coin's material itself—copper—is significant. It grounds the symbolic authority in something tangible, accessible, but also susceptible to decay, reflecting the transient nature of power. Editor: I find the limited tonal range, the bronze patina against the dark field, quite striking. It reinforces the object's age and imbues it with gravitas. Curator: It's incredible how such a small object can hold so much cultural and historical weight. Editor: Precisely, a testament to the power of form and symbol to transcend time.