Gold decadrachm of Agathokles of Syracuse c. 317

Curator: Here we have a Gold decadrachm of Agathokles of Syracuse, a coin residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Something about it just feels so... tactile. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the tension between wealth and power inscribed onto such a small object; imagine the social hierarchies it represents. Curator: The details, considering its size, are astonishing. Agathokles' profile is so crisp, and then the chariot scene on the reverse, overflowing with movement. It almost feels like a miniature epic poem. Editor: Absolutely. Consider the politics of minting your own image onto currency, the assertion of dominance it signifies, particularly for someone like Agathokles, who seized power through military might. Curator: I wonder what it felt like to hold this, to feel the weight of it. Did it feel like holding the future, or maybe just a gilded cage? Editor: Perhaps both, intertwined. It's a potent reminder that history is made of countless individual stories shaped by larger power structures that continue to resonate today. Curator: I think I’ll carry that thought with me as I explore the next piece. Editor: A fitting takeaway, indeed.