Coin of Alpi c. 12th century

Curator: Here we have a coin attributed to Najm al-Din Alpi, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums, weighing 16.67 grams. Editor: It's remarkable how worn it is. You can almost feel the hands that passed it between them. I wonder about the composition of the metal, too. Curator: As a historian, I find it fascinating how such a small object can reflect larger political and economic systems. It reminds us that monetary systems are constructed. Editor: Exactly, how the labor and resources were extracted, and the hierarchies that determined who got to mint and control these things. It’s more than just the face value. Curator: Absolutely, coins like this functioned as tools for creating and reinforcing authority. They controlled the narrative that was put into circulation. Editor: And now we consider how it’s carefully extracted from the earth, placed in a museum—each step adding more layers of meaning to it. Curator: Indeed. It’s humbling to consider the stories held within this artifact, reflecting broader social structures. Editor: Right, understanding its materiality helps us question how these power structures continue to operate today.