Tetradrachm of Ptolemy I, with the portrait of Alexander, Alexandria c. 310

Curator: This is a tetradrachm, a silver coin, commissioned by Ptolemy I Soter, featuring Alexander the Great. Editor: It feels weighty, doesn't it? A small, cold monument in your hand, speaking volumes about power and legacy. Curator: Absolutely. The portrait of Alexander is idealized, of course, conveying strength and divine authority. Look at that laurel wreath. Editor: And on the reverse, we see Athena striding forward, symbols of victory like the eagle, all rendered with such precise lines on this tiny surface. The formal composition emphasizes Alexander's heroic stature. Curator: To think, each one of these coins, weighing 15.64 grams, financed an entire world of ambition and conquest. It's humbling. Editor: I find it haunting, a perfect blend of artistry and propaganda. It’s a frozen moment of a man reaching for immortality, even on something as trivial as currency.