Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, Amphipolis c. 336

Curator: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, minted in Amphipolis. Editor: It's so small, yet it feels monumental, you know? Like holding a universe in your palm. Curator: Consider the material conditions. The coin, struck from silver, facilitated trade, funded armies. Its very existence speaks to Alexander's vast reach and complex economic system. Editor: And the images! That stern profile, Zeus enthroned... It's pure power, condensed into a tiny, portable myth. I wonder what it felt like to jingle those in your pocket. Curator: Coins like this blur the lines between art, propaganda, and commodity. They were tools for consolidating power. Editor: You're right, it served a material purpose. But to me, it also represents the human desire for immortality, stamped right onto the metal. Curator: Precisely. Reflecting on this piece I am struck by how intertwined labor and the materials have led to the creation and preservation of such a historic relic. Editor: Absolutely, it gives you pause when you consider holding a piece of history like that.