Coin of Seleucus I c. 312

Editor: Here we have a coin of Seleucus I, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks to be made of metal, and it's quite small. What can you tell us about the production of this coin? Curator: Consider the labor involved in mining the metal, refining it, and then striking the coin. Each step reflects the social and economic structures of the Seleucid Empire. Editor: So, it's more than just an object of value? Curator: Precisely. It's a material artifact, forged by human hands within a specific system of production and consumption, which transcends its monetary value. What purpose does the material serve in understanding this broader social context? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way before; it gives a tangible connection to the past. Curator: Exactly!