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

Curator: This coin, minted in Amisos, Pontos, bears the image of Mithradates VI Eupator, a ruler whose life was filled with both ambition and paranoia. Editor: It's striking how much symbolic weight is packed into such a small, unassuming object; a potent symbol of power and legacy rendered on a humble coin. Curator: Indeed. Coins served as a form of propaganda, allowing rulers to disseminate their image and message throughout their realm. This coin is no exception. Editor: And look at the detail, even on this tiny scale; the eagle with spread wings, surely referencing Zeus, Mithradates’s claimed ancestor. Curator: Precisely. And the Gorgon's head on the other side, a powerful symbol warding off enemies, both visible and invisible. Editor: It is a powerful reminder how deeply symbols permeated everyday life. Even mundane objects carry cultural meaning. Curator: Right. Every image carefully chosen to project authority. Editor: Reflecting on the coin's imagery certainly makes us question the role of symbolism in governance, even today.