Coin Struck at Athens for the Cleruchs at Delos 

Curator: Up next, we have a coin struck in Athens for the Cleruchs at Delos, currently held by the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs a mere 2.86 grams. Editor: It looks like something found at the bottom of the sea, encrusted with time and secrets. What stories could this little thing tell? Curator: Coins like these were instrumental in maintaining Athenian control over Delos, imbuing everyday transactions with political weight. Each symbol reinforced Athenian dominance. Editor: But what about the Delian perspective? What did it mean for them to handle currency stamped with Athenian power? Did it feel like a subtle occupation? Curator: It's a potent reminder of the complexities embedded in even the smallest objects. Editor: Yes, something so seemingly insignificant opens up a chasm of history and conflicting perspectives. I'm still captivated by its worn texture.