Stater of Baalmelek II c. 425

Editor: This unassuming silver coin, a stater of Baalmelek II, seems so small, yet it must have held great significance. What cultural narratives do you see embedded in its imagery? Curator: Notice how the images, worn as they are, still convey power. Consider the choice of symbols: what animals are depicted, what gods are evoked? These weren't arbitrary. They were deliberately chosen to communicate authority, divine favor, and cultural identity. What do you think these symbols meant to the people who used this coin? Editor: Perhaps they were reassurance of stability, power, even divine protection in their daily transactions? Curator: Exactly! Currency wasn't just about exchange; it was a constant, tactile reminder of the ruling power and its ideology. It's fascinating how a small object like this can carry such weight. Editor: I never thought of a coin as a deliberate carrier of cultural memory. Curator: Indeed. Every scratch and mark adds to the story.