Drachm of Ariarathes VII c. 111 - 199

Curator: This is a Drachm of Ariarathes VII, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's quite worn. The surfaces appear corroded, giving it a somber, aged feel. Curator: Indeed. The silver's degradation speaks to its age and history. But consider the iconography: a regal portrait on one side, a depiction of Athena on the other. Editor: Right, but what did that Athena mean to the people using this coin? Was she a symbol of civic pride, or a reminder of patriarchal structures? Currency always reinforces power dynamics. Curator: Perhaps both, layered within the visual language. The artistry itself is important. Notice the detail, even in its diminished state, which represents a sophisticated level of craftsmanship. Editor: I notice the image of a ruler on money, another way to establish dominance and disseminate power to those who see and use the currency. Curator: A fascinating duality. A relic communicating power then and analyzed for power today. Editor: It makes you think about how money is still used to convey status, even millennia later.