Coin of Strato I (abd'Ashtart I), Sidon c. 4th century

Editor: Here we have a coin of Strato I, ruler of Sidon. Seeing both sides, weathered and worn, it speaks to the history of trade, labor, and value systems. What story do you think its materiality tells? Curator: I see the coin not just as currency, but as a product of extraction, labor, and distribution. Consider the mines where the metal was sourced, the workshops where it was cast, and the hands through which it passed. The coin is a material witness to these processes and the power structures they reveal. Editor: That reframing helps me see beyond its face value, towards the hands that shaped it and the systems it supported. Thank you. Curator: Indeed, analyzing the coin's production unveils a complex network of material and social relations. It enriches our understanding beyond the simple exchange of goods.