Asper of Manuel I of Trebizond c. 1237 - 1263

Curator: Let's consider this "Asper of Manuel I of Trebizond," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It appears heavily worn; the material itself is clearly telling a story of circulation and handling. Curator: Precisely. These coins were tools of empire, shaping economic realities while also cementing Manuel's image of power throughout Trebizond. Editor: The repetitive process of striking these coins speaks to a deliberate, mass-production effort to control the region's finances. Curator: I see echoes of systemic power dynamics, where value is arbitrarily assigned and controlled, directly impacting the lives and identities of those within its reach. Editor: And the materiality itself—the debasement of silver over time—reveals the shifting economic landscape of the empire. A decline, perhaps? Curator: Perhaps. Thinking about the labor involved in producing and distributing these coins allows us to understand so much more than just its face value. Editor: Indeed, from empire to individual exchange, it is all there, inscribed in the materials.