Coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria, Uncertain Mint c. 175

Editor: Here we have a coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria. It's small, worn, but carries such an echo of a distant past. What stories do you think this little artifact whispers? Curator: It whispers of power, doesn't it? Think of it: a ruler declaring himself “Epiphanes,” meaning “God Manifest.” It's hubris stamped into metal, hoping to buy loyalty, perhaps even immortality. What does that say about the man? Editor: So, it's not just money, it's propaganda? Curator: Exactly! Each coin a tiny billboard, a pocket-sized piece of political theater. I now see power and the fragile nature of legacy, all in one small, tarnished circle.