Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, Babylon c. 325

Curator: This is a Tetradrachm, a silver coin, from the time of Alexander the Great, minted in Babylon. Its weight is about 17 grams. What strikes you about it? Editor: There's a sternness, almost a melancholy, to Alexander's profile. And on the reverse, Zeus seems rather relaxed, holding that little bird. Curator: Coins such as this one served not only as currency, but also as propaganda. Alexander's image became a powerful symbol of his reign and empire. Editor: It's fascinating how the coin’s imagery reinforces patriarchal power. A man, king, and god, all presented as symbols of authority. Who did it serve? Curator: This coin represents a crucial period of cultural exchange and political consolidation under Alexander's rule. Editor: Still, it speaks volumes about who was considered worthy of representation, and the legacies such representations leave behind. Curator: It certainly offers plenty to think about. Editor: Absolutely, it is a portal into the past.