Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, mounted as a cufflink, Sidon? c. 310

Curator: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, mounted as a cufflink. Editor: The wear and tear give it character; you can almost feel the history in the metal itself. Curator: These coins, made of silver, circulated widely across Alexander’s empire. Their creation wasn't exactly artistic, but they played a pivotal role in shaping the economics and image of the time. Editor: It's fascinating to consider how such objects transitioned from currency to adornment, each life impacting the value and the very surface of the silver. Curator: Absolutely. The image of Alexander, even in miniature on these coins, reinforced his power and legacy, and the subsequent use as jewelry reflects the continuing hold on the public imagination. Editor: It makes you think about the cost of the metal itself against the constructed value that comes later in the cultural afterlife of the coin. Curator: Indeed, and the fact it's preserved in the Harvard Art Museums speaks volumes about how tastes evolve, doesn't it? Editor: It does. Seeing this little coin, a relic turned accessory, reminds me how context transforms an object's meaning, its labor, and its value over millennia.