Tetradrachm of Ptolemy I c. 310

Curator: Look at this ancient silver coin, a tetradrachm, portraying Ptolemy I Soter. It's like holding a whisper from the Hellenistic period, isn’t it? Editor: It's a stoic whisper, wouldn’t you say? The profile is intense and unsmiling—all business. Curator: Well, Ptolemy I was Alexander the Great's general, and later, king of Egypt! These coins were his PR, his brand, solidifying his claim to power. It’s fascinating to imagine them circulating, each one a tiny assertion of authority. Editor: Absolutely. And look at the reverse side, the depiction of Athena. The eagle adds such a brilliant touch. Curator: It reminds us how art serves power, and how even the smallest objects can echo the grand narratives of empire. Editor: Yes, now I see the coin as more than money. It is history made material.