Coin of the Chalkidian League, Olynthos 

Editor: This is a coin of the Chalkidian League from Olynthos, on display at the Harvard Art Museums. It's small, heavily patinated in green, and quite weathered. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The wear is fascinating, isn't it? This coin speaks volumes about its material journey and the social context of its production and use. It’s a bronze object, likely created through casting or striking, reflecting specific labor practices and metallurgical knowledge. Editor: So, it's less about the imagery and more about how it was made and used? Curator: Precisely. The coin's value isn't just monetary or symbolic. It’s rooted in the resources extracted, the labor expended, and its role within networks of exchange and power dynamics. Does considering it this way change your perspective? Editor: It does. I hadn't thought about how the coin's materiality connects it to so many different processes and people. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Examining art this way reveals deeper connections than just aesthetics.