Coin of Vima Kadphises c. 2th century

Editor: This is a bronze coin of Vima Kadphises, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. It looks worn and aged, but still feels weighty. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This coin embodies power and cultural exchange. Consider Vima Kadphises's rule during a period of immense social stratification; his image on currency suggests a deliberate construction of authority. Editor: So the coin is a political statement? Curator: It certainly projects power, but also reveals the socio-economic realities of the time. How does an object like this reflect on contemporary power structures and our understanding of history? Editor: It makes you think about who gets to be remembered, and how. Curator: Exactly. The coin invites us to question whose stories are valued and circulated, then and now.