Drachm of Artabanos I, Ecbatana c. 127

Editor: This is a silver drachm of Artabanos I, likely from Ecbatana. It's incredible to think of the labor involved in minting so many of these. What does the material itself tell you about its historical context? Curator: The very materiality of this coin—the silver itself—speaks volumes. Where was that silver sourced? Who mined it, and under what conditions? The coin's existence demands we consider the systems of extraction, labor, and trade that underpinned the Parthian economy. Editor: That makes me see it in a totally different light. Thanks! Curator: It's crucial to remember that even the smallest artifact is embedded in a web of material processes.