Drachm of Vologases IV of Parthia, Ecbatana c. 147 - 191

Curator: I’m struck by how much history can be contained in something so small. This is a Drachm of Vologases IV of Parthia, a silver coin from around his reign. It’s currently held in the Harvard Art Museums, a tangible piece of an empire. Editor: It feels ancient, doesn’t it? I mean, beyond the obvious. It has a weight, a kind of solemnity. I immediately feel the burden of civilizations rising and falling, pressed into this little disc. Curator: It’s incredible to think about the hands it passed through, the transactions it facilitated. The image of Vologases, though worn, speaks to the power and authority he wielded. Coinage was vital for establishing legitimacy, wasn't it? Editor: Absolutely. And the symbolism is powerful. It's like holding a tiny billboard of Parthian power. Even today, we understand what it means to have your face on the money, right? Curator: It's a potent reminder that art, even in its most functional forms, is a reflection of society's values and ambitions. Editor: A tiny, tarnished mirror, reflecting a lost world. And, in a way, reflecting ourselves, still grappling with power, legacy, and the stories we choose to tell.