Coin of Syracuse c. 344

Editor: This is the Coin of Syracuse, and its weight is 2.75 grams. I find it so fascinating that such a small object could have held so much economic and social power! What can you tell me about its significance? Curator: Consider the materiality. Bronze, a relatively common metal, was transformed through labor and skill into an object of value. Who controlled access to the metal, the mint, and the distribution? That tells a story of economic and political power. Editor: That’s interesting; it seems like there’s more to it than just the coin's face value, then? Curator: Precisely! The coin embodies a whole system of production and exchange. It’s about the exploitation of resources, the organization of labor, and the control of trade within that society. What does that suggest to you? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way before, but now I realize it represents far more than just a monetary value. It's a snapshot of the socio-economic structure of Syracuse at the time. Curator: Exactly! We can learn a lot about power dynamics by considering the raw materials, means of production, and circulation of even a simple coin.