Asper of Michael of Trebizond c. 14th century

Curator: This is an Asper of Michael of Trebizond, crafted by Michael of Trebizond. Editor: There's a kind of haunting beauty to it, isn't there? Like catching a glimpse of a dream half-forgotten, all in this tiny silver disc. Curator: It's fascinating how these small objects tell grand stories. Currency wasn't just about exchange; it was about projecting power, communicating identity. The images would have been immediately recognizable to the people of Trebizond. Editor: You know, it almost feels like holding a little piece of starlight. Think of all the hands it passed through, the stories it could tell of empires rising and falling. Curator: Exactly. Its survival speaks volumes about the enduring human need to create, to trade, to leave our mark. Editor: Right. These tiny things, these whispers, remind us that history is alive, still humming in our pockets. Curator: Indeed. Looking at it now, I am humbled by the echoes of human experience contained in this little piece of silver.