Hemidrachm of Phokis under Phayllos c. 354

Curator: Here we have a Hemidrachm of Phokis under Phayllos, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Its weight is a delicate 2.66 grams. Editor: The worn texture of the metal really speaks to me; you can almost feel the hands that held it, the transactions it facilitated. Curator: Indeed! The silver itself is a testament to the Phokian exploitation of the Delphi mines, resources at the core of their politics. Notice the bull's head, a symbol deeply rooted in the region's identity. Editor: The bull could have also represented the power of the people, the labor that went into extraction, the very lifeblood of their society, channeled into these tiny, potent objects of exchange. Curator: Precisely. And the female head, likely a nymph or goddess, speaks to the intertwined nature of divine power and material wealth in their culture. Editor: It is a fascinating glimpse into the ancient world. Curator: Absolutely. A single coin revealing so much about power, labor, and belief. Editor: A tiny object holding a vast history.