Tetradrachm of Alexander I Balas c. 150

Curator: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Alexander I Balas, a coin currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. The coin is silver. Editor: It feels instantly… weighty. All that history pressed into one small, tarnished disc. Makes you wonder what hands it passed through, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. Notice the artistry, though—the careful detail in the depiction of Alexander I, crowned with laurel, on one side. And on the reverse, Zeus seated, holding Nike. Editor: The figure of Zeus feels less regal, more human somehow. And the textures! The way the metal's been worked to create such intricate details – it's quite something. Curator: Consider the symbolism, too. The laurel wreath signifying victory, Zeus representing divine authority… Alexander was clearly trying to make a statement. Editor: A statement pressed into something that could be easily spent. What a fleeting, almost absurd way to declare immortality. Curator: It's a potent reminder of the past, of power and ambition… and the impermanence of it all. Editor: Yes, a beautiful object that makes you reflect on what we value, what we leave behind.