Fraction of Croesus, Lydia c. 6th century

Curator: We're looking at a small silver coin, a "Fraction of Croesus, Lydia," currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. Its weight is a mere 0.65 grams. Editor: It’s surprisingly moving, isn't it? The lion and bull, worn smooth, still locked in eternal combat. What a powerful image of kingship. Curator: Indeed. What's fascinating to me is the actual labor involved in creating these standardized tokens. Think about the mining of the silver, the smelting, and the precise striking of the die. Editor: And Croesus chose that specific imagery, the lion and the bull. They symbolize power and fertility, ensuring cultural continuity. Curator: Yes, but more than that, it represents control of resources and the facilitation of trade. The production of coinage transformed economies. Editor: To see these symbols, though—they persist, reminding us that certain concepts resonate across centuries. It's a tangible connection to the past. Curator: I agree. The value of this piece lies not only in its symbolic weight but also in the revolutionary production processes it embodies. Editor: It's a poignant artifact, regardless of your perspective. I'm left contemplating the story it tells through its well-chosen symbols.