Drachm of Baktria under Antimachos II Theos c. 174

Curator: Here we have a Drachm of Baktria, minted under Antimachos II Theos. It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has the weight of a breath, doesn’t it? Like holding a secret, worn smooth by time and countless pockets. Curator: Indeed. The silver speaks of trade routes and power. See the horse, a symbol, perhaps, of the Bactrian cavalry, or maybe something deeper, like freedom? Editor: The act of minting coins, of commodifying value—it's a form of social engineering. Who decided what this metal represented? Curator: Ah, the age-old question of power and representation! I find it whispers of lives lived, of choices made, fortunes won and lost… Editor: All imprinted on a small disc of silver, shaping the stories we tell ourselves about worth. Curator: I love how such a small thing can hold such a big story. Editor: Absolutely, every scratch and imperfection a testament to labor, exchange, and the ongoing process of value creation.