Drachm of Hekatomnos, Satrap of Caria c. 395

Editor: We're looking at a Drachm, a silver coin, minted by Hekatomnos, a ruler from ancient Caria. It's small, worn, but strangely powerful. What stories do you think this little coin holds? Curator: Ah, a bit of pocket change from the ancient world! It's incredible to think someone, so long ago, held this very piece. The images, a lion-like creature and a radiant sun, probably spoke volumes to them about power and divinity. What do they whisper to us today? Editor: Maybe of ambition, of rulers wanting to leave their mark, quite literally! It’s so different from how we think of money now. Curator: Exactly! Money then wasn't just a medium of exchange; it was propaganda, art, a tangible piece of history. It makes you wonder about all the hands it passed through, doesn't it? Editor: It really does! It’s like holding a tiny piece of a lost world.