Coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria, Antiocheia pros Saroi c. 2th century

Curator: This intriguing artifact is a coin, dating back to Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria. Editor: It looks...worn. Like it's carried the weight of history, literally. Curator: Absolutely. Crafted most likely from bronze, these coins were the workhorses of daily commerce. Editor: Imagine the hands it passed through! It's a tangible link to everyday lives in ancient Syria. All those transactions, all that material exchange tied to a single, small object. Curator: I see it as a portrait. Not just of Antiochos, but of an era where even mundane objects carried the imprint of power and belief. Editor: True. And it reminds us that even the grandest empires depend on the smallest, most readily available things.