Stater of Tarsos under Datames c. 378

Curator: This is a Stater of Tarsos made under Datames. It currently resides at the Harvard Art Museums and weighs around 9.8 grams. Editor: There's a solemn gravity to this coin. The silver's worn smoothness speaks volumes, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. The facing head, likely of a deity, recalls earlier numismatic traditions of divine endorsement. The other side, with the ruler in profile, asserts temporal power. Editor: The contrast is striking. The deity's frontal gaze feels open, inviting. Yet the ruler's profile, helmeted and stern, projects authority and control. It is as if a semiotic game of power is afoot. Curator: The visual language of the Greeks, and their understanding of symbol projection, is very apparent here. This coin serves as both currency and a pronouncement of power. Its imagery and the choice of material were carefully considered. Editor: It's remarkable how something so small can hold such weight—culturally, politically, and even psychologically. Curator: It gives us a fascinating glimpse into the world of ancient Tarsos. Editor: And also makes one think about all the hands it has passed through.