Stater of Alexander the Great, Odessos c. 280

Curator: This gold stater, now held at the Harvard Art Museums, presents Alexander the Great, or more accurately, a posthumous representation of him by Alexander III. It weighs in at 8.52 grams. Editor: It feels heavy with history, literally. The gold shines, making the imagery feel immediate, alive even. Curator: Indeed. The material itself speaks volumes, doesn't it? Gold, the currency of empires, reflecting the power dynamics of the Hellenistic world. This stater wasn't just money, it was propaganda, disseminating Alexander's image and authority. Editor: It's a pocket-sized myth. I imagine someone holding this, feeling the weight of Alexander's legacy in their palm. Makes you think about how narratives are forged, literally stamped, onto our consciousness. Curator: Precisely. The minting process itself—the labor, the tools, the distribution networks—reveals the complex machinery behind empire-building. Editor: Looking at it now, I feel connected to that history. This coin isn’t just an artifact; it’s a portal. Curator: A portal indeed, offering glimpses into the material realities and ideological constructs of a bygone era. Editor: It certainly gives a lot to consider.