Coin of Macedon under Gaius Publilius, Quaestor c. 148

Editor: This is a coin from Macedon under Gaius Publilius, a bronze piece weighing 14.48 grams. It looks pretty worn. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It's intriguing how the value of this coin isn't just monetary, but also lies in the material itself—bronze, accessible yet enduring. Consider the labor involved in its production, from mining the metal to die-striking each individual coin. Editor: So, beyond its face value, it tells a story of labor and access? Curator: Exactly. It raises questions about who controlled the resources, who benefited from the economy it facilitated, and how this object participated in the broader material culture of its time. It really makes you think about the hands it passed through.