Half Asper of Alexios II of Trebizond c. 1297 - 1330

Editor: This is a Half Asper of Alexios II of Trebizond, from the Harvard Art Museums. It is worn and small, but the imagery of what looks like a ruler on horseback is still visible. What stories do you think this piece can tell? Curator: The ruler on horseback is a potent symbol, echoing classical equestrian statues of emperors. But here, slightly distorted by the coin's surface and age, it speaks to the fragility of power, perhaps? A reminder that even empires fade, leaving only whispers in metal. Editor: So the wear and tear adds to the meaning? Curator: Absolutely. The coin is a tangible link to a specific time and place, filled with echoes of cultural memory. It invites us to consider the gap between ambition and reality. Editor: I hadn't considered that. Thanks for pointing out the symbolism. Curator: My pleasure. It's these layers of meaning that make objects like this so compelling.