Coin of Alpi c. 12th century

Curator: This is a copper coin, a "Coin of Alpi," attributed to Najm al-Din Alpi. It's currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks incredibly worn, doesn’t it? The copper is heavily patinated, almost verdigris in color, hinting at its age and history. Curator: Precisely. The coin’s materiality speaks volumes about circulation and the economic systems of the time. The wear and tear are evidence of its role in everyday transactions. Editor: What’s striking is how something so small could have such outsized importance. It represents Alpi's political power and control over resources, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. Consider the labor involved in its production, from mining the copper to the detailed process of striking the coin itself. Editor: Seeing the wear reminds me how art objects are shaped not just by their makers but by the societies that use them. Curator: Absolutely, it's a potent little object, a snapshot into trade and power dynamics. Editor: It leaves you wondering about the hands it passed through, the lives it touched.