Coin of the Koinon of Thessaly c. 196

Curator: This is a coin from the Koinon of Thessaly, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a striking example of ancient currency, isn't it? Editor: It does feel weighty, not just literally at 5.54 grams, but also symbolically. There's a somber tone to its aged patina. It evokes a deep past, a sense of history eroded but not lost. Curator: Absolutely. The imagery is key. Thessaly was famed for its horses, and this coin depicts one prominently. The horse, as a symbol, carries so much: power, nobility, even a connection to the divine. Editor: And yet, looking at it now, I can't help but think about who had access to this "power" and "nobility." Who did this currency serve, and who was excluded? It speaks to the hierarchies embedded even in something as seemingly simple as a coin. Curator: That's a compelling point. The Koinon was a league of Thessalian city-states, so the coin represents a collective identity. The horse becomes a shared emblem, a visual shorthand for Thessalian pride and unity. Editor: But unity for whom? These symbols are never neutral. They represent the values and power structures of a specific group, often at the expense of others. That horse might have been bought and sold, perpetuating certain social conditions. Curator: You’re right to question the dominant narrative. Examining these objects through a critical lens reveals so much about the complexities of the past. Editor: Indeed. It reminds us that history isn't just about grand narratives but also about the everyday power dynamics embedded in objects like this.