Tetradrachm of Mithradates VI of Pontus 96 - 95 BCE

Curator: This is a tetradrachm of Mithradates VI of Pontus, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is of a formal austerity mixed with almost theatrical flourish. Curator: Indeed. Note how the portrait employs a high relief, sharply delineating each curl and contour. The composition invites a reading of power and authority. Editor: The imagery certainly backs that up. The star and crescent, the grazing Pegasus—these are potent symbols. Mithradates clearly wished to connect himself to divine favor and military prowess. Curator: Consider also the weight, the metallic content, and the way the incuse text reinforces the coin’s function as a medium of exchange and a proclamation of sovereignty. Editor: Symbolically, the choice of Pegasus links Mithradates to mythical narratives of heroism and transcendence. Curator: True, but let’s not overlook the formal considerations. The way the die was cut, the pressure applied during striking. These details also contribute to the object's meaning. Editor: Ultimately, both form and symbol reflect Mithradates' ambitions. Curator: Precisely. A fascinating intersection of material and meaning.