Coin of Antiochos I Soter of Syria, Antioch c. 281

Editor: This coin, made by Antiochos I Soter, seems quite worn. There's a profile on one side, and some kind of figure on the other. What do you see in this piece? Curator: These coins are fascinating because they represent power and identity. Who got to be on the money, and what symbols were used? That was never a neutral choice. Editor: So the image wasn't just about identifying the currency? Curator: Exactly. Think about it – what does it mean to have your image, your symbol, literally circulating through society? Who is included, and who is excluded from that representation? Editor: That's a really interesting way to think about something as small as a coin. Curator: It’s a way to understand how power and representation are intertwined. This coin shows us how those dynamics have played out across history.