Tetradrachm of Antiochos IX Kyzikenos of Syria, Sidon c. 110

Editor: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Antiochos IX Kyzikenos of Syria. It’s a coin, so silver, and shows a profile of Antiochos on one side. What stands out to you about it? Curator: I’m struck by how this object, made from a specific material under particular labor conditions, served as a tool of economic and social power. How did its production and circulation reflect the social structure of the time? Editor: That's interesting. So the coin's value isn't just monetary but also a reflection of the society that produced it? Curator: Precisely. Consider the source of the silver, the artisans who crafted the die, and how its distribution impacted trade and the everyday lives of people. What does that labor tell us? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way before, thinking about the means of production. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: It highlights how art and material culture are deeply intertwined with economic and social realities.