Drachm of Vologases IV of Parthia c. 147 - 191

Curator: Looking at this coin, I immediately feel this sense of history, of countless transactions, whispers of empires rising and falling. Editor: It certainly has a weighty aura, doesn't it? This is a silver Drachm of Vologases IV of Parthia, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: Vologases IV, huh? A statement of power in the palm of your hand. The profile portrait, so severe, feels deliberate. Editor: Absolutely. Consider the visual language at play here. The king's image, its very production and circulation, directly ties into legitimizing his rule. This isn't just currency; it's propaganda, softly asserting dominance with every exchange. Curator: It’s funny to think about, isn't it? Something so small carrying such a large symbolic weight. I wonder what hands this coin has passed through. Editor: A potent reminder that even the smallest artifact can open a portal to understanding social, political, and personal histories. Curator: Indeed. It sparks an irresistible curiosity to know more about the hands that held it.