Posthumous Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great from Amphipolis c. 315

Curator: Here we have a posthumous tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, likely minted in Amphipolis. Editor: It’s so small, yet it carries such weight. Like holding a tiny, weathered dream of empire. Curator: Indeed. These coins served as vital propaganda tools, circulating the image of Alexander long after his death. It's fascinating how his successors used his image to legitimize their own rule. Editor: It's kind of beautiful how something so functional becomes imbued with all this…power. I mean, that profile, it's stoic, classic—but there's something melancholy about it too. Maybe it’s just the patina of time. Curator: The wear is telling, isn't it? Each scratch a story of its travels and transactions, a silent witness to history. Editor: It’s amazing to think about all the hands this passed through. Ordinary people, likely dreaming of something bigger than themselves. Curator: Precisely. These coins helped construct Alexander’s enduring legacy, a carefully crafted narrative of heroism and conquest. Editor: More than just currency; it’s a pocket-sized myth. Curator: That's right. A reminder that even the most tangible artifacts can be powerful instruments of ideology. Editor: Well, I will be looking at my change differently from now on.