Coin of the Chalkidian League, Olynthos 

Editor: This is a coin from the Chalkidian League, Olynthos. It's wonderfully worn. I mean, it just whispers history! But what story do you think it's trying to tell, beyond its age? Curator: Ah, a whisper is right! To me, it speaks of shared identity and economic power. Imagine the bustling marketplace where this little disc changed hands, symbolizing a network of allied city-states. You see the lyre on one side? Editor: I do now that you mention it. Curator: Think of it not just as decoration, but as a symbol of their shared culture, their music, their very soul. And the stool – a seat of power, perhaps? It’s amazing how much meaning can be packed into such a tiny space, isn't it? Editor: It really is. Suddenly it feels a lot less like a small, old coin and more like a portal to another time. Curator: Exactly! Art, in any form, is a portal.