Tetradrachm of Prusias II of Bithynia c. 185

Curator: This is a tetradrachm of Prusias II of Bithynia, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, weighing 16 grams. Editor: Instantly, I’m struck by how tactile it must have felt; imagining the hands it’s passed through, you know? There’s something incredibly human about that worn surface. Curator: The silver's materiality speaks volumes about trade and status, doesn't it? We consider the labor involved, from mining to minting, within the sociopolitical context of Prusias's reign. Editor: Absolutely! The portrait on one side; it's stylized, sure, but hints at ego, at power… almost as if I can sense the weight of the crown, the burdens, and aspirations of a ruler through the ages. Curator: Indeed. Each strike represents not just currency but control, each drachm a testament to Prusias' influence and economic reach. Editor: Which continues to impact us. Isn't it wild how such a small object holds a reflection of such vast societal forces? Curator: Precisely. It's a tangible link to ancient systems of power and exchange. Editor: Makes you consider the stories our pocket change will tell centuries from now.