Plated stater of Alexander the Great

Editor: This object is a plated stater of Alexander the Great. The condition of the metal is striking. What can you tell me about its materiality? Curator: Well, the fact that it's *plated* is critical. This speaks volumes about economic realities. What base metal lies beneath the gold? Was this deception widespread? Coinage wasn’t just about value, but about communicating power and control of resources. Editor: So, the material itself is a statement. What does this reveal about the society that produced it? Curator: Exactly! It suggests a stratified society where access to precious metals wasn’t universal, and perhaps even a crisis of confidence in the currency itself. It is a power statement. Editor: I never thought about money that way. Fascinating! Curator: The value is in the process and what it reflects.