Tetradrachm of Demetrios II c. 129

Editor: This is a silver Tetradrachm of Demetrios II Nikator, from ancient Syria. Its age is evident in its worn texture. What can you tell me about its history and significance? Curator: Coins are not merely currency, but powerful tools of propaganda. Images of rulers, gods, or symbols conveyed messages about power, legitimacy, and cultural identity. What symbols do you observe and what might they have communicated to the public? Editor: I see a portrait of a king, maybe? On the reverse, a figure holding something? It all seems very deliberate. Curator: Precisely! Each detail was carefully chosen to project an image, to solidify the ruler's position within the Hellenistic world. Think about who controlled the imagery and the message they wanted to convey. Editor: So, the coin is not just an object, but a statement. Thanks! Curator: Exactly, its imagery is a statement embedded within a social, cultural, and political context. Food for thought!