Tetradrachm of Scostoces of Thrace c. 299

Editor: This object is a silver Tetradrachm of Scostoces of Thrace, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels so weighty and permanent. I'm struck by its materiality as both currency and art. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Let's consider the social context of its production. Coinage was a form of state power. The material itself, silver, would have been mined, processed, and then die-struck. Who controlled those resources and processes? Editor: So it's less about the images on the coin and more about what the coin *is*? Curator: Precisely. The means of production and distribution are key to understanding its value and impact. Think about what this coin represented in terms of labor and control. Editor: That shifts my perspective entirely. I see now that this little coin tells a much larger story about power and resources. Curator: Exactly, by analyzing the material and means of production, we gain insight into a society's structure.