Double prutot of Herod I, the Great c. 40 - 44

Editor: Here we have two prutot coins made by Herod the Great. The wear and tear are pretty intense; what can you tell me about these objects? Curator: What strikes me is the materiality of these objects. These aren't just symbols of authority; they represent the very material reality of Herod's rule. Consider the labor involved in mining, refining, and striking these coins, and how this connected to trade and social consumption in that period. Editor: So it's less about the image and more about the process? Curator: Precisely. The image is secondary to the coin's function as a tool for economic and social control. What survives is this materiality, this link to the labor and structures of a bygone era. Editor: I never thought about money that way! It makes you wonder about the social lives of those who used these coins. Curator: Exactly.