Drachm of Menander of Baktria c. 160

Curator: Let’s talk about this Drachm of Menander of Baktria, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It’s rough. I mean, worn, but there’s something powerful in that visible history. Curator: Absolutely. As currency, it's primary purpose was transactional, facilitating economic exchange. The silver from which it’s made speaks to trade routes, mining practices, and the very tangible creation of value. Editor: And the image itself, the depiction of Menander and the deity on the reverse, shaped his public persona and projected power. It’s a tool of statecraft, really. Curator: Precisely. This coin offered a unique window into the materiality of power and its social implications. Editor: Indeed, it prompts us to consider how these tangible objects not only reflect but also actively shape our understanding of history.