Prutah of Alexander Janneus, Jerusalem c. 103 - 176

Curator: Here we have a Prutah of Alexander Janneus, a small bronze coin from Jerusalem. Weighing just over 1.6 grams, this humble artifact whispers tales of ancient commerce and power. Editor: You know, the first thing that strikes me is its incredible modesty—this tiny, timeworn disc carrying the weight of an empire, practically fitting in the palm of your hand. Curator: Precisely. These coins, mass-produced, would have been the lifeblood of the economy. They represent the tangible extension of Janneus’s authority into the daily lives of his subjects. Think about the mines where the metal was extracted, the workshops where it was cast. Editor: And imagine the hands that handled it! The market vendors, the soldiers... each transaction a small echo of the king's influence, like a ripple from a pebble dropped in a pond. It's oddly poetic. Curator: It's a fascinating study in how rulers used material objects to solidify control. Editor: Right, it's a tiny, but mighty, link to the past, reminding us that even the grandest empires are built on the most basic transactions. Curator: Absolutely.