AR Antiochos VIII of Syria 

Curator: Here we have a silver coin depicting AR Antiochos VIII of Syria, whose portrait adorns the obverse. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The scale is so intriguing; such an outsized personality rendered on something so small, a marker of both power and trade. What was the significance of these coins in their time? Curator: These were used to pay soldiers and conduct commerce. Think about the labor involved: mining, smelting, engraving the die. Each coin passed through many hands, a material embodiment of royal authority. Editor: Absolutely. And the image itself – the king’s carefully rendered features – served as propaganda, projecting an image of strength and legitimacy, especially useful during periods of political instability. Curator: Precisely. We see that interplay of power, labor, and image all compressed into a single, small object. Editor: Thinking about it now, this coin invites us to consider how power intersects with issues of representation and circulation. Curator: It's amazing how much history can be held within such a humble object. Editor: Indeed. I am left wondering, who actually held this in their hands?