Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, Mesembria c. 125 - 165

Curator: Here we have a silver tetradrachm, a coin minted in Mesembria under the authority of Alexander the Great. Editor: It looks small but weighty, somehow. The profile on the front feels...idealized but not inhuman. Curator: Indeed. On one side we see a depiction of Heracles, though many believe it's actually Alexander himself, styled as the Greek hero. Editor: That's potent symbolism, melding earthly power with mythological grandeur. And on the reverse, Zeus is enthroned, holding an eagle... Authority, plain as day. Curator: Absolutely. The coin served not just as currency but as propaganda, spreading Alexander's image and ambition throughout his vast empire. Editor: Amazing how such a tiny thing could carry so much weight, you know, ambition, power, legacy… all pressed into the silver. Curator: It really does make you think about the stories even the smallest artifacts can tell. Editor: Yes, history in your pocket!