Tetrobol of Stasikypros, King of Cyprus, Idalion c. 460

Editor: This is a fascinating artifact, the Tetrobol of Stasikypros, King of Cyprus, from Idalion. The silver is worn, but you can still make out the images. What can you tell me about how something like this was made, and its use in the world? Curator: Consider the labor involved in extracting, refining, and shaping this silver. Coinage wasn't just about symbolic value; it represented control over resources and production. Who was mining this silver? Who was striking these coins, and under what conditions? Editor: So, the images themselves are almost secondary to the material processes? Curator: Not secondary, but integral. The images are part of a system of value production, inextricably linked to the material, the labor, and the political power structures of the time. The act of making it gives it meaning. Editor: That's a powerful way to think about it; it changes how I see even such a small coin. Curator: Indeed, by understanding the material and labor behind it, we gain insight into the social fabric of ancient Cyprus.