Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, Tarsos c. 327

Editor: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great from Tarsos. The silver is so worn, yet the images of what must be Zeus and Hercules are still visible. What strikes you about this coin? Curator: Consider the process: striking coins standardized trade and power. The material, silver, wasn't just valuable, it was a statement. Minting these coins fueled Alexander's military campaigns and imperial ambitions. Who mined it? How were the dies produced? These are the stories held within the metal. Editor: That makes me think about the labor involved. It’s a whole different way of looking at it. Curator: Exactly! It shifts our focus from Alexander’s image to the socioeconomic structures his conquests enabled. What does mass production of currency mean for ancient economies? Editor: I never thought of it that way before. Thanks!