Triobol of the Aenianes of Thessaly c. 400

Editor: Here we have a Triobol of the Aenianes of Thessaly, a silver coin. The imagery is quite striking, and the craftsmanship seems very skilled. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: The immediate appeal lies in understanding the means of production. How was this coin struck? Who were the laborers involved? The value, beyond its face, rests in the material and social systems that brought it into being. Editor: So, you're less interested in the figures depicted and more in the coin's socio-economic context? Curator: Exactly. Consider the silver itself – where did it come from? Who mined it, and under what conditions? The coin is a product of those processes as much as it is of artistic design. This brings into question the traditional high art versus craft divide. Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. It definitely offers a new lens to appreciate its value.