Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, Damascus c. 330

Editor: Here we have a tetradrachm, a coin, of Alexander the Great, from Damascus. I am struck by how worn and circulated the coin looks. What can you tell me about this? Curator: Consider the coin as a form of propaganda, a small object broadcasting an image of power and authority throughout Alexander's vast empire. How do you think his image, even stylized and idealized, functioned in maintaining control and suppressing dissent across diverse cultures? Editor: So, it wasn't just money, it was a message? A carefully crafted image. Curator: Precisely. How might this relate to contemporary issues of representation and power, especially in the age of social media where images circulate rapidly? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. I didn't consider that the circulation of money was also the circulation of image. Curator: It is a potent intersection of economy, culture, and identity.