Coin of Mithradates VI, Amastris c. 2th century

Editor: Here we have a coin of Mithradates VI, from Amastris. It’s aged, you can see the patina on the surface, which gives it a weighty feel despite its actual size. What stories do you think this little coin whispers? Curator: Oh, it shouts of power, doesn't it? Imagine Mithradates, trying to unify Pontus, and stamping his image on coinage is no small statement. I wonder, looking at the imagery, does it feel more like propaganda or a genuine artistic expression? Editor: Propaganda, probably? So, its artistic value is really secondary to its political purpose? Curator: Perhaps. But isn't all art, in some way, political? And sometimes the most effective propaganda comes wrapped in beauty, or at least, a memorable image. It makes you think, doesn't it?