Coin of Antiochos VII Eurgetes of Syria, Uncertain Mint c. 2th century

Editor: Here we have a coin of Antiochos VII Eurgetes of Syria, dating from an uncertain mint. It is made of bronze. What strikes me is how worn and used it looks. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This coin, beyond its face value, speaks volumes about the material conditions of its creation and circulation. Think about the mining of the metal, the labor involved in minting it. How was this bronze coin produced? Editor: That's a good point. So, you’re saying to consider all the hands that touched it and what those hands might have been doing? Curator: Precisely! And where did it travel, and what could it purchase? How did trade routes and economies impact its existence, and what does its survival tell us about consumption in its time? Editor: I never considered how much material history a small coin could hold. Thanks for that! Curator: My pleasure; thinking about the materiality offers us a unique glimpse into the past.