Tetradrachm of Pyrrhos, forgery c. 4th century

Editor: Here we have a forgery of a tetradrachm of Pyrrhos, of uncertain date. The silver is heavily worn; you can see the image of Pyrrhos, but it's faint. What can you tell me about the means by which this object came to be? Curator: Given its status as a forgery, we need to consider the labor and materials involved in its production, especially considering the intent to deceive. How does the materiality of this object challenge our understanding of value and authenticity? Editor: So, its value isn't intrinsic, but lies in what people believe it to be. Curator: Precisely. The production of this counterfeit speaks volumes about the social and economic context in which it was created, highlighting the desire for and perceived value of genuine artifacts. Editor: I never thought about a forgery offering such insight into the original! Thanks! Curator: It really reframes how we understand authenticity and consumption, doesn't it?