Drachm of Alexander the Great, Lampsakos c. 310

Editor: Here we have a Drachm of Alexander the Great, made of silver. It's incredible to think about the labor involved in mining and minting coins like these. What's your take on it? Curator: I see a direct link between material and power. Silver, sourced through labor, transformed into currency, fueled Alexander's military campaigns and administration. Consider also the artistry, the die-engravers whose skill shaped the iconography. Editor: It's interesting to think about it as a tool of power, not just a historical object. So, is the value in the coin itself, or what it represented? Curator: Precisely. The coin’s value lies not only in its intrinsic material but in its role within a complex system of production, distribution, and ideological control. It makes you consider the global impact of ancient economic policy, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. I never thought of a coin having such a big influence.