Coin of Demetrios Poliorketes, King of Macedon c. 4th century

Curator: Here we have a coin made by Demetrios I Poliorketes, King of Macedon. It's currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Intriguing. The patina of age really dominates my first impression. It speaks of time, decay, and lost empires. Curator: Indeed. The material itself—likely bronze—tells a story of trade, resource availability, and the very practical needs of an expanding empire. These coins facilitated not only commerce but also the dissemination of Poliorketes' image and power. Editor: And what a potent image, even obscured as it is. The texture, the rounded form, invites a tactile engagement that transcends its monetary value. The degradation becomes part of its aesthetic identity. Curator: The coin also reveals insights into the labor and craftsmanship of the time. Coin production was a meticulous process, demanding skilled artisans to create dies and oversee striking operations. Editor: I am seeing beyond the process, to the composition; its circular form lends itself to a symbolic reading of totality, of a world under his rule. Curator: Absolutely. It's remarkable how such a small object can reflect such vast socio-political dynamics. Editor: Yes, it makes you wonder about the hands it passed through, and their silent stories.