Copper Assarion Class 10 of Andronikos II, Constantinople c. 1282 - 1328

Curator: Here we have a Copper Assarion Class 10, created in Constantinople under Andronikos II. It now resides at the Harvard Art Museums and weighs just over two grams. Editor: It feels so ancient, like holding a whisper of a forgotten empire in your hand! The wear and tear tell stories. Curator: Indeed. Copper as a material speaks to the everyday transactions of the Byzantine world. Its relative commonness reflects wider economic activities. Editor: I imagine the craftsman, patiently hammering, each strike shaping not just metal but the flow of commerce. Did they ever imagine it lasting this long? Curator: The production of these coins standardized exchange, facilitating trade networks that extended throughout and beyond the empire. Editor: It's poignant. Such a small thing, yet it once greased the wheels of a vast civilization. I almost feel guilty holding it. Curator: These material objects are vital links to understanding past societies. Editor: Absolutely, seeing how this was actually made—that gives you a special connection with it.