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Money does buy happiness. Coin dedications to Asklepios between the fifth and third centuries BC

Throughout the ancient world coins were frequently offered at shrines, temples, caves, and wells. Inspired by object biography and new materialism, this article examines the changing functions of coin dedications at the cult of Asklepios, which have so far received little scholarly attention. It traces the history of the coins from the moment they were acquired by the dedicant to their final deposition, and examines the ways they interact with the world around them. To do so, it will consider the relationship between the dedicant and the dedication, various processes of sacralisation, and the transformation of coins from commodity to non-commodity. The material characteristics enabling this unique biography will be kept in mind throughout.