Coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria, Hieropolis-Kastabala c. 175

Curator: This small coin, weighing just over three grams, depicts Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria. It originated from Hieropolis-Kastabala. Editor: It feels weighty somehow, beyond its size. The dark patina almost swallows the images, yet there's a strange luminescence hinting at stories untold. Curator: These coins were not just currency. They projected the image and power of the ruler, circulating his visage and, by extension, his authority throughout the kingdom. Editor: I imagine holding it, connecting to a lineage of hands, each driven by survival and ambition. Curator: Exactly. Coins like this are artifacts of political and economic history, small but potent symbols of imperial administration. Editor: Makes you consider how much stories our everyday coins will tell future generations.