Tetradrachm of Ptolemy II from Alexandria c. 284

Curator: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Ptolemy II from Alexandria. Notice the eagle. Editor: Oh, yes! It feels like the dawn of empires—compact power frozen in metal. The eagle seems ready to strike. Curator: Indeed. Eagles, particularly the Ptolemaic eagle, often symbolize royal authority and divine power, linking the ruler to the gods. Editor: The profile, so stern and idealized, stares off into a future only he can envision. It’s pretty magnetic, isn’t it? Like a little ancient time capsule. Curator: A capsule holding very specific visual rhetoric. The coin broadcasts not only the ruler's likeness but also his intended image, reinforcing his legitimacy. Editor: A pocket-sized propaganda piece. Curator: Precisely. These small objects carried massive weight.