Coin of Alexander the Great, Macedonia ("Amphipolis") c. 336

Curator: Here we have a coin from Macedonia, crafted during the reign of Alexander the Great in Amphipolis. Editor: It's remarkably small! And weathered; a tangible piece of history worn smooth by time. Curator: The coin's materiality—its copper composition, its weight of just 1.48 grams—speaks to the vast network of trade and production under Alexander. Consider the labor involved in mining, smelting, and striking these coins. Editor: Absolutely. And how these coins facilitated not just economic exchange, but also the spread of Hellenistic culture and power. Each coin, in its way, represents the subjugation and reshaping of diverse peoples and their economies to the needs of Alexander's empire. Curator: The iconography, though faded, alludes to power, to Zeus, and perhaps even to Alexander himself. These images had potent meanings. Editor: Indeed. A tiny symbol of imperial authority, now a relic that forces us to confront the complexities and contradictions of ancient empires. Curator: A humble object, yet it unlocks so much about the economics of empire. Editor: And prompts reflection on the legacy of conquest.