Heavy tetrobol(?) of Perdikkas II of Macedonia c. 437

Curator: This small silver coin, a heavy tetrobol, is attributed to Perdikkas II of Macedonia. Look at the workmanship; even at this scale, the images are arresting. Editor: Immediately, I’m drawn to the texture, that kind of worn patina. It speaks to the material’s journey through hands and history, the literal weight of currency and power. Curator: Absolutely. The horse, so prominent on one side, resonates deeply within Macedonian identity. Horses symbolized power, nobility, and the vast plains from which their kingdom sprang. It's a visual echo of their origins. Editor: And think of the labor involved in minting countless copies of these. Each strike a repetition of power, a standardization of value, extending the king's reach. Curator: Precisely. The symbols, though small, held immense cultural and political sway. They were a form of visual propaganda, shaping perceptions of the ruler. Editor: It's incredible to consider what such a seemingly simple object can reveal about a culture's values and economic structure. Curator: Yes, a tiny object, but filled with layers of cultural memory. Editor: Indeed, the coin invites us to consider the intersection of material and meaning.