Copper Assarion of Andronikos II c. 1282 - 1328

Editor: This is a copper coin, a Copper Assarion of Andronikos II. Considering its age and what it was used for, it's in pretty rough shape. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This coin offers insight into the material culture of the Byzantine Empire. The copper itself signifies the economic conditions; its base metal suggests a time perhaps of fiscal constraint. Consider the labor involved in its mining, smelting, and striking. Editor: So, it's less about the artistic value, and more about what the materials say? Curator: Precisely. The coin’s worth isn't merely monetary or aesthetic, but embedded in the processes that brought it into existence, reflecting trade, resource management, and social hierarchy. Editor: That’s a different way to look at something so small! Curator: Material analysis moves beyond conventional appreciation. It asks: what was the coin *made* of, and what did its making *make* possible?