Coin of the Koinon of Thessaly c. 196

Editor: Here we have a "Coin of the Koinon of Thessaly," from the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes me is how much history is embedded in this small object. What stories do you think it holds? Curator: Indeed. Think of the symbols pressed onto its surface. Each one functioned as a shorthand, a commonly understood visual language. Perhaps a Thessalian bull, evoking fertility and power? Editor: So the imagery spoke directly to people in that time and place? Curator: Precisely. It's cultural memory made tangible. These symbols were anchors, connecting people to shared beliefs and traditions. How do you think this affects the coin's value as an object? Editor: I guess it shows how much more a simple coin could represent. It's not just currency; it's a piece of cultural identity. Curator: Exactly. It also is a vessel containing so much history, and reveals the enduring power of symbols across time.