Corinthian Stater (Attic Didrachm) of Agathokles,Tyrant of Syracuse c. 317

Curator: Here we have a Corinthian Stater, an Attic Didrachm, actually, crafted under Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse. It weighs 8.69 grams and is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It's amazing to think something so small could carry so much power. It feels almost…mythical, you know? The worn silver, the Pegasus rearing up… Curator: The Pegasus is deliberate, referencing Corinthian origins, while the helmeted Athena signifies military prowess and civic identity. The die-cutting, though rudimentary by modern standards, serves ideological propagation. Editor: Ideological, yes, but imagine holding it! It’s a tactile link to a whole world of tyrants, gods, and commerce. I wonder what stories this little coin could tell. Curator: The numismatic value, of course, is considerable. However, it is the semiotic weight, the confluence of symbols, that truly elevates it beyond mere currency. Editor: Exactly! It's like a tiny poem forged in metal. All that history and art…makes you wonder what our pennies will say about us centuries from now.