Drachm of Alexander I Balas c. 150

Editor: This is a Drachm of Alexander I Balas. Given the artist's name is the same as the subject and the materials, I assume it was used as currency. What can you tell me about the silver material and the means of production? Curator: The very materiality of the coin, the silver itself, speaks to trade routes and extraction practices. Minting was a sophisticated process, a form of mass production tied directly to economic and political power. Consider the labor involved in mining, refining, and striking these coins. Editor: So, this coin embodies the power of material and labor? Curator: Exactly. It's a material testament to the social and economic structures of its time. What does the image of Alexander communicate? Editor: That this was an endorsement of leadership and control. I hadn't considered the labor involved in making the Drachm, thank you. Curator: And the ways in which that labour supported and represented the state. It’s fascinating to consider, isn’t it?