Coin of Philip V of Macedonia after 183

Editor: This is a coin of Philip V of Macedonia, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's amazing to see the detail preserved on such a small, old object. What can you tell us about the social and political context that would have given rise to this coin? Curator: Coins like these were not just currency. They were instruments of power. Philip V used these coins to broadcast his image and authority throughout his kingdom. The imagery, the portrait of the ruler, and the symbols chosen speak volumes about how he wanted to be perceived and how he wanted to shape public opinion. Editor: That makes perfect sense. So the choice of imagery was deliberate propaganda? Curator: Precisely. Consider where these coins circulated, who used them, and the messages they carried. They were a form of mass communication, shaping and reinforcing Philip's authority across Macedonian society. Editor: I never thought of ancient coins that way before. It really puts a new spin on how I view historical artifacts. Curator: Exactly! It's about understanding the interplay between art, power, and society.