Coin of Antiochos IX Kyzikenos of Syria, Antioch c. 114 - 195

Curator: Here we have a coin of Antiochos IX Kyzikenos of Syria, Antioch, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a rather somber quality, doesn’t it? The deep browns and blacks suggest age and wear, hinting at the passage of time and power. Curator: Indeed. The coin offers a formal portrait of Antiochos, typical of the Hellenistic era. Note the precise detail in the profile, the texture implied in the hair. Editor: It's striking how such a small object could represent an entire regime, the symbolic weight carried in its images speaking volumes about legitimacy and control in its time. Curator: Precisely. And the other side shows, presumably, a representation of a deity of the period. Editor: Consider, too, its function beyond currency—a symbol of identity and power, circulated amongst a diverse population. Curator: A remarkable study in miniature, encapsulating artistic skill and political messaging. Editor: It prompts reflection on how we encode power and belief in the objects we circulate today.