Stater of the Koinon of Thessaly c. 120 - 150

Curator: This coin, designated as Stater of the Koinon of Thessaly, resides in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It's immediately striking how worn it is. You can tell it has passed through many hands. Curator: Indeed. It’s a tangible artifact, reflecting Thessaly's socio-political structure, and its imagery speaks to the region's identity. Editor: I'm thinking about the labor involved, both in mining the metal and in the precise craftsmanship of the die. Each strike represents manual production. Curator: And each coin's circulation helped solidify the Koinon's power and influence within the broader Greek world. Editor: Absolutely, it is fascinating to consider how it was produced and circulated to perform such a function. Curator: It really lets you see how intertwined art and governance have been since time immemorial.