Hemidrachm of the Arcadian League, Kleitor c. 480

Curator: Here we have a Hemidrachm of the Arcadian League, Kleitor, crafted from an unknown date by the Arcadian League and residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, it looks like something you'd find buried in your backyard! Makes me wonder about all the hands it's passed through. Curator: Indeed. Let's examine its features. We see a depiction of Zeus Lykaios on one side and a female head on the other, likely a nymph. The iconography is quite standard, almost formulaic, reflecting the political and religious symbols of the time. Editor: But even in that rigid structure, you sense the human touch, right? Someone painstakingly carved these tiny figures. The weight of history in your palm. Curator: A valid observation. The coin serves as a material signifier of power and identity, however, what remains is the structure. Editor: Structure, yes, but also ghosts. What stories could this little piece of silver tell? It's got me thinking about what we leave behind.