Obol of Alexander the Great, 'Amphipolis' c. 336

Curator: Here we have an obol of Alexander the Great, minted in Amphipolis. Even small, it carries immense historical weight. Editor: It's incredible, the way something so diminutive can feel so weighty. It's as if the entire empire's ambition is pressed into this little coin. Curator: Indeed. Consider that coins like these weren't merely currency. They were instruments of power, extending Alexander's image and authority across vast territories. Editor: Right, the portraiture becomes a form of propaganda, embedding Alexander’s face into daily life, legitimizing his conquests with every transaction. Whose face do we see? Curator: Usually Herakles, a divine association meant to connect Alexander to heroic lineage. Editor: It’s fascinating how currency operates on so many levels, encoding political and ideological narratives in such a commonplace object. Curator: Precisely. This tiny object tells a sweeping story of empire, representation, and the enduring power of image. Editor: It is humbling to think of all the hands that held this coin, the lives it touched.