Quarter Asper of John III(?) of Trebizond 1342 - 1344

Editor: Here we have a "Quarter Asper of John III(?) of Trebizond." It's small, silver, and looks quite worn. It makes me think about the vast passage of time and the empires that have risen and fallen. What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: This coin offers a tangible link to the Byzantine Empire's twilight. Trebizond was a successor state, clinging to power long after Constantinople fell. Coins like this reveal the economic and political realities of a fractured empire, and how rulers projected power through their own currency. Editor: So, it's less about inherent artistic value, and more about its function within a political system? Curator: Precisely. Consider how imagery was used to legitimize rule. Who got to decide what was stamped onto these coins? The very act of minting and circulating currency was an assertion of sovereignty. What does its existence in the Harvard Art Museums today suggest to you? Editor: I guess it shows how objects like this become cultural artifacts. It's fascinating to consider its journey from a symbol of power to a museum piece.