Drachm of Alexander the Great, 'Colophon' c. 310

Editor: This small, tarnished silver coin, a Drachm of Alexander the Great, seems so unassuming, yet it carries the weight of an empire. The profile is striking. What stories do you see etched in its surface? Curator: Ah, to hold a piece of history, literally! I see ambition, legacy, and the fascinating tension between man and myth. That's not just a portrait; it's a carefully crafted image designed to project power and divinity. Notice the lion scalp headdress. Does it represent his strength, his lineage perhaps? Editor: It does seem like a carefully crafted piece of propaganda, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed! And consider this: how many hands did this coin pass through? How many lives did it touch? It's a tangible connection to a world we can only imagine. That's the magic of art, isn't it? Bringing the past to life. Editor: Absolutely, I'll certainly be looking at coins differently from now on!