Copper Assarion of Andronikos II c. 1282 - 1328

Curator: Here we have a copper assarion minted under Andronikos II, part of the Palaeologan dynasty. Editor: It's quite small, and the green patina gives it an aged, almost otherworldly quality. You can almost feel the history embedded in the metal. Curator: Indeed. Consider the cross at the center, encircled by inscriptions—a powerful emblem of faith interwoven with imperial authority. It speaks volumes about the Byzantine worldview. Editor: And consider the material itself: copper. A common metal, yet transformed through labor and design into a symbol of value, power and belief, circulating within a complex economic system. Curator: The very act of holding this coin, imagining its journey through countless hands, connects us to the enduring power of symbols across millennia. Editor: Yes, and the wear and tear remind us of its tactile existence, its place in everyday exchange and the empire's material reality. Curator: A small object, yet a potent carrier of meaning and history. Editor: Exactly, a testament to the power of humble materials shaped by human intention.