Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, Amphipolis c. 336

Curator: This Tetradrachm, a coin of Alexander the Great, prompts questions about the economic system and labor that fueled its production. What strikes you about this coin? Editor: The coin is so small, yet it represents so much power. How was it made? Curator: The process of minting these coins was labor-intensive, involving mining, smelting, and striking. The material itself, silver, was extracted and refined, reflecting resource control and consumption. Editor: So, it's not just a portrait of a ruler, but a representation of the whole system that supported him? Curator: Precisely. The coin’s existence speaks volumes about resource management, power structures, and the material foundations of the ancient world. Editor: I had never considered the labor that went into it, beyond its artistic value. Curator: Understanding the means of production shifts our perspective, doesn’t it?