Drachm of Alexander the Great, Greece or Macedonia mint c. 310

Curator: This is a Drachm, a silver coin minted under Alexander the Great, likely in Greece or Macedonia. It weighs just under 4 grams. Look at how worn it is. Editor: There's something haunting about this tiny coin. The eroded profile of Alexander and the seated figure on the reverse—a figure of Zeus, maybe?—feel laden with history, empire, and conquest. Curator: The coin's materiality is interesting. Silver was a key commodity, and its weight and purity were critical for trade and power. The production process, from mining to minting, involved intense labor. Editor: And what did that labor produce? An enduring image of power and divinity. It served to legitimize Alexander’s rule and perpetuate a specific cultural narrative—one of Greek superiority and military might. Curator: Indeed. Every mark is evidence of its journey. Editor: A potent, if weighty, reminder of how images and materials shape our understanding of the past.