Coin of Mithradates VI, Amisos (Pontos) c. 2th century

Curator: This unassuming coin is a relic from the kingdom of Pontos, specifically from the reign of Mithradates VI Eupator. Editor: It looks almost like a child's drawing. The simple, almost crude, depictions give it a sort of raw, unrefined quality. Curator: Think of the process, though. Striking coins was a key method of disseminating the ruler’s image and asserting economic control. The weight, 7.47 grams, would have been carefully calibrated. Editor: Absolutely. Consider the socio-political power it represents. Mithradates used imagery on his coinage to project authority and legitimize his rule in a volatile era. Curator: Each coin represents a confluence of labor, skill, and materials—a tangible expression of the kingdom's power. Editor: A pocket-sized power symbol. It's amazing how this tiny object offers such an insightful window into ancient geopolitics.