Hemidrachm of the Arcadian League, Kleitor? c. 460

Curator: This is a Hemidrachm of the Arcadian League, possibly from Kleitor. Editor: It looks like a memory, worn smooth by time, but still holding secrets. Curator: Indeed. The coin, weighing just over 3 grams, features Zeus Lykaios enthroned on one side. Editor: And the flip side reveals a head, perhaps a nymph, framed by archaic Greek lettering. The artist uses a profile to suggest dignity, but there's a slight imbalance in the overall composition; the figure feels pressed into the frame. Curator: The League issued these coins to foster unity. Zeus Lykaios, associated with a ritualistic cult, suggests the region's unique identity. Editor: So, a potent symbol rendered in miniature! It makes you wonder what stories it could tell if coins could talk. I find this artwork so haunting. Curator: It’s a powerful, tangible piece of ancient history.