Stater of Mithrapata, Dynast of Lycia c. 380

Curator: This small silver coin, weighing just over a gram, is known as the Stater of Mithrapata. Mithrapata was a dynast of Lycia, a region in what is now Turkey. Editor: It's incredible, isn't it? Such a tiny thing holding so much history. That fierce lion's head seems to be staring right through time. Curator: Indeed, the imagery is fascinating. The lion likely represents power and authority, while the symbols on the reverse are thought to be Lycian script and perhaps emblems of Mithrapata's rule. Editor: I imagine the artist meticulously crafting the details on such a small surface. It makes me wonder about the hands that held this coin, the stories it could tell. It's also amazing to think how such objects act as markers of trade and commerce. Curator: Exactly. These coins were not just about the image; they were about projecting power and legitimizing rule through trade and daily circulation. Editor: It's a tiny piece of art, a political statement, a currency, and a time capsule all rolled into one. Makes you think about what our coins say about us today. Curator: Precisely. It makes me consider the weight, not just of the silver, but of its symbolic meaning and legacy. Editor: Yes, and its incredible journey to the Harvard Art Museums.