Coin of Eukratides I c. 170

Editor: Here we have a coin, or rather two sides of a coin, minted by Eukratides I. Its rough, almost brutal, texture really strikes me. What can you tell us about the making of this coin? Curator: It's not just about high art, is it? This object speaks to the economic and social systems of its time. The raw material, the labor involved in mining, refining, and striking the coin--these all tell a story of power and resource control. How does its form reflect its function within that context? Editor: That's fascinating! It's easy to overlook the sheer labor embedded in something so small. Curator: Exactly! And consider its circulation, its role in trade and exchange. The coin embodies material realities and social relations. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way, but it makes the coin feel so much more connected to the real world. Curator: Precisely. By examining its materiality, we understand it as a product of labor, shaped by economic forces.