Siglos of Croesus of Lydia, Sardis c. 561

Editor: This is a Siglos of Croesus of Lydia, Sardis. The weight is listed as 5.33g. It's incredible to hold a piece of metal that once facilitated trade in the ancient world. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It's not just the trade itself, but the conditions of its production. Where did the silver come from? Who mined it? What were their lives like? The act of striking these coins, consider the labor involved, the distribution of wealth, and the power structures it represents. Editor: So you see the coin as evidence of social structures at the time? Curator: Precisely. The coin itself is a product of many hands, from the miner to the minter. It embodies a whole economic system. Now, does understanding that change how you view this artifact? Editor: Absolutely, seeing it as a record of human labor and power makes it even more compelling. Curator: Indeed, by examining the materiality and production, we gain insights beyond simple monetary value.