Coin of Athalaric, Ravenna 527 - 534

Editor: This is a coin of Athalaric, Ravenna, weighing less than a gram. It feels almost… insignificant, yet it must have represented real power and labor. What can we learn from its materiality? Curator: Precisely. The coin's metal, its weight, its very existence speaks volumes about the means of production under Athalaric. Who mined the metal? Who shaped it? Who controlled its distribution? These are not just aesthetic questions, but questions of power and social organization. Editor: So, by understanding the process, we’re really looking at the societal structure? Curator: Absolutely. The coin isn't just money; it's a material record of the economic and social relations of its time. Examining it reveals the labor and resources mobilized to create and maintain political authority. Editor: That gives me a lot to consider about everyday objects, not just artworks. Curator: Indeed, and reveals much about value judgements between fine art and craft!