Tetradrachm of Aesillas as Quaestor in Macedonia, Thessalonike 90 BCE - 70 BCE

Curator: Here we have a silver tetradrachm, a coin, issued by Aesillas when he was quaestor in Macedonia. Editor: It's oddly compelling for a tiny thing. It feels heavy with history and kind of beat up, like it's seen a lot. Curator: Indeed. Coins like these offer insights into economic and political life in ancient Thessalonike. Aesillas held significant authority. Editor: I'm drawn to the portrait. There's something noble, but almost world-weary in those eyes. The roughness almost adds to the intensity. Curator: Coinage served as propaganda, meant to project power, but their circulation also integrated populations into new economic systems. Editor: It’s incredible to think about all the hands this passed through, all the stories it could tell. The legacy of that weight endures. Curator: Precisely. These small objects become invaluable cultural and historical artifacts.