Coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria, Antioch c. 175

Curator: Here we have a coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria, minted in Antioch. Editor: It’s like looking at a tiny, battered planet. You can feel the weight of history, but it's also kind of mysterious, isn't it? Curator: Indeed. Coins like this one were more than just currency. They were instruments of power, carrying potent symbols. Editor: So, like, propaganda you could jingle in your pocket? I imagine the act of spending it was a daily ritual, quietly affirming the ruler’s authority. Curator: Precisely. Visual symbols reinforced his self-declared divine status. Each coin was a small echo of cultural memory and royal power. Editor: Makes you wonder what stories this little coin could tell, bouncing from hand to hand. Food for thought!