Hemidrachm of Philip II of Macedonia, Pella c. 323

Curator: Here we have a Hemidrachm of Philip II of Macedonia, a small coin that speaks volumes. It's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Looking at it now, I’m struck by its…ordinariness, almost. Editor: Ordinary? Forged in a cauldron of empire, each one of these coins represents a nexus of power and patriarchy, circulating not just wealth but ideology. Curator: I see that, of course. The tiny portrait, the inscription... it's all carefully crafted propaganda. But isn't there something almost...domestic about its scale? Editor: Maybe. But even in the domestic sphere, these symbols reinforced a rigid social hierarchy. Consider the implications of this coin being held, traded, saved by women in Macedonian society. Curator: True. It's a potent reminder that even the smallest artifacts can carry the weight of history. Editor: A history that continues to shape our world today. The echoes of empire are all around us.