Hemidrachm of Alexander I Balas c. 150

Curator: Here we have a Hemidrachm of Alexander I Balas, a silver coin now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs a mere 1.95 grams. Editor: It’s incredible how much history can be packed into something so small! I’m immediately struck by the delicate craftsmanship evident in the tiny figures. Curator: Indeed! Coins like this were crucial tools for rulers like Alexander Balas. Their distribution cemented political power and conveyed royal propaganda. Editor: And the materiality of the silver itself speaks volumes. The physical act of minting and distributing these coins demonstrates a complex economic and social system at play. Who controlled the silver mines? Who profited from its circulation? Curator: Precisely! The imagery, too, is significant. The portrait on one side projects authority, while the figure on the reverse likely represents a deity associated with the ruler, legitimizing his reign. Editor: It's amazing to think of all the hands this coin passed through, and the stories it could tell about trade, power, and everyday life. Curator: A powerful reminder that even the smallest objects can offer profound insights into the past.