Stater of Alexander the Great, Lampsakos c. 328

Curator: This is a Stater of Alexander the Great, from Lampsakos. Editor: It looks so incredibly fragile and enduring all at once. And, of course, intensely opulent. Curator: Absolutely. It’s fashioned from gold, weighing just under 8.5 grams. A tiny thing carrying a massive weight of history! Notice the helmeted head of Alexander on one side. Editor: And on the other, a figure of Victory, wings outstretched. The process of minting these…the labor, the gold itself, ripped from the earth…it all speaks of power. Curator: It's a potent symbol. It makes me think about how we try to immortalize ourselves. Alexander sought it through conquest. Now we see his face, burnished on this coin, in a museum. Editor: Yes, this artifact showcases how economic and political power were interwoven in the ancient world. Curator: It’s funny how something so small can hold so much, isn't it? Editor: Indeed. The grand scope of history compressed into a single, gilded object.