(
)

CURRENT EXHIBITION

Natural Crossroads: Flora and Fauna on Ancient Mediterranean Coinage

The concept of money is an invention of humankind. Money can be defined as a medium to facilitate the exchange of goods and services and may take many forms. Money could take the form of precious metals, iron rods, coins, paper banknotes, and even digital ones and zeros. A long-lived physical form of money is the coin, which is defined as a disk of metal with images impressed on it and conforming to a known weight standard.

The production of coinage required the alignment of political, economic, and artistic interests. Coin types were frequently selected to reflect and to resonate with the community they circulated within, with a logic that equated the familiarity of the type with the trustworthiness of the currency. Accordingly, types were often drawn from the surrounding environment, the city’s economy, and local religious practices. Natural Crossroads highlights coin types that relate elements of the natural world with a city’s economy, mythology, and/or religious rites. Such images inextricably link different spheres of identity and present a nuanced message of inclusion, power, and community.

Images (L-R):
Silver drachm from Arados, Phoenicia (modern Arwad, Syria), 167–166 BCE
Obverse of coin, depiction of a bee framed within border of dots
Gift of Bruce R. Brace, 1995

Silver Athenian Tetradrachm, 450-404 BCE
Reverse of coin, showing standing Owl with olive sprig and crescent moon behind, inscribed ΑΘΕ.
Gift of Bruce R. Brace, 1995

Silver Corinthian Stater, 386-307 BCE
Obverse of coin, depicting Pegasos.
Purchase, 1992

Curated by: Spencer Pope with Agi Nemes, Rebecca Childs, Wenzhao Wang, Maggie Wark, and Michaela Wolfe

On view now until September 2027

VIEW ARCHIVE
Link to Exhibitions Archive for a complete list of past exhibitions

PAST EXHIBITIONS

About Abstraction: 1911–1966

About Abstraction: 1911–1966

Read More
iARTS EXPO: 2026 Graduating Cohort

iARTS EXPO: 2026 Graduating Cohort

Read More
Meryl McMaster: Bloodline

Meryl McMaster: Bloodline

Read More
What of the eternal harm lurking all around?

What of the eternal harm lurking all around?

Read More
Artwork made out of collaged images on paper featuring a rustic cabin surrounded by flora, fauna, birds, whales,

The Great Unseen

Read More
SUMMA 2025: Affirmations

SUMMA 2025: Affirmations

Read More
The Great Sea: Mediterranean Imaginaries from Antiquity to Modernity

The Great Sea: Mediterranean Imaginaries from Antiquity to Modernity

Read More
Ascending Horizons

Ascending Horizons

Read More

SUBMISSIONS & ASSISTANCE

SUBMISSIONS:

The McMaster Museum of Art is presently not accepting artists’ submissions for exhibitions at this time of leadership change at the museum.  Our Interim Director will be undertaking a review of the museum’s forward exhibition schedule, as well as our policies and procedures, in the coming months.  Our present focus is the ongoing maintenance of our permanent collection and storage needs for future collection activities.

The museum remains committed to our collecting priority in the continued support of early career, mid-career and established Indigenous artists, artists of the Black diaspora and racialized artists through purchases and commissions. Donations will be welcomed and reviewed at a future date which will be posted on our website.

ASSISTANCE:

The McMaster Museum of Art is a third party recommender for Ontario Arts Council (OAC) Exhibition Assistance Grants.

The museum is currently accepting applications. Our next program deadline is: December 16, 2024.

Priorities:
Artists who demonstrate an interest and consideration of art as a medium for social change and action.

Please follow the guidelines established by the Ontario Arts Council, apply directly through their website, and submit the following with your applications:

Brief artist statement
Confirmation letter from the gallery/museum/venue
Budget
CV
Digital images of work