Tetradrachm of Antiochos III the Great of Syria c. 223

Curator: Here we have a silver tetradrachm, attributed to Antiochos III the Great of Syria. Editor: It's remarkable. Even in this state, it's easy to get a sense of the absolute authority it radiates. Curator: Indeed. Notice the diademed portrait, its profile a study in idealized power, strategically placed to legitimize his reign. Editor: There's a certain weariness to it, too, don't you think? As if even being 'great' is a bit of a drag. The reverse, with the seated Apollo, feels softer, almost wistful. Curator: It's a calculated juxtaposition, balancing earthly dominion with divine favor through iconographic alignment, a classic trope. Editor: Well, whatever the calculation, it worked. And seeing it, I feel connected to that ancient world and the weight of its ambitions. Curator: A tangible encapsulation of power dynamics and semiotic encoding from an era long past. Editor: It speaks volumes, and yet remains a mystery—a coin holding an empire's story.