Drachm of Mithradates II of Parthia, Rhagai c. 123 - 188

Editor: So, this is a Drachm of Mithradates II of Parthia. It's just a small coin, but the detail is incredible. How was this even made? What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a complex system of resource extraction and labor practices. Consider the silver itself: where was it mined, and who mined it? This single coin represents a vast network of production and consumption. Editor: I never thought of it that way, just the sheer volume of work involved! Curator: Exactly. The coin’s value wasn’t just symbolic. It represented real labor, real resources, and real power. Editor: That’s a fascinating perspective. It changes how I see something as simple as a coin. Curator: Indeed.