Coin of Perge under Salonina 254 - 268

Editor: Here we have "Coin of Perge under Salonina," from the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite small, and you can really see the wear and tear. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, the coin’s materiality speaks volumes. Consider the labor involved in its production: the mining of the metal, the die-cutting, the striking of the coin itself. It represents an intricate system of resource extraction and human effort, all in service of facilitating exchange and power. Editor: That’s fascinating. So it’s not just about the image on the coin? Curator: Exactly. The coin's physical form represents a tangible link to the economic and social structures of the time. How was it circulated? Who benefited from its use? These questions reveal the social life embedded within this seemingly simple object. Editor: That makes me think differently about it. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!