Stater of Alexander the Great, Macedonia c. 336

Curator: This is a gold stater, attributed to Alexander the Great, a man who shaped much of the ancient world. Editor: It's striking, even at this scale. The gold has a warmth that almost makes you forget the conquests it financed. Curator: These coins were critical. Minted across Alexander's vast empire, they served as propaganda, legitimizing his rule through standardized imagery. Editor: And what images! Athena, a goddess of strategic warfare, is prominently displayed. It's a clear message about power, isn't it? It’s about control. Curator: Absolutely. And on the reverse, Nike, the winged goddess of victory, reinforces that message. The imagery cements Alexander's status as a divinely ordained leader. Editor: It makes you wonder about the lives touched, or rather crushed, by this ambition, and how images normalize power. Curator: It's a potent reminder of the relationship between art, power, and the shaping of historical narratives. Editor: Definitely, analyzing these coins forces us to confront the complexities of how leaders are made, and how we, even now, perceive them.