Coin of Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse c. 305

Editor: This is a coin of Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse. It's aged, but you can still make out the imagery pressed into its surface. What strikes you about it? Curator: I find the coin's materiality fascinating. Bronze, a common metal, elevated through the minting process into currency and a symbolic representation of power. Consider the labor involved in extracting, smelting, and shaping the metal, then imprinting it with Agathokles' authority. Editor: So you're saying the coin itself becomes a record of its own production? Curator: Precisely. The wear and tear on the coin even tells a story about its circulation and consumption within ancient society. It's not just an object, but a testament to economic and political processes. Editor: That's an interesting way to look at it. Thanks for sharing that perspective!