Coin of Sinope c. 2th century

Curator: Here we have a coin of Sinope, created by Mithradates VI Eupator, a small but potent piece held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: There's a somber beauty to it, almost like looking at two miniature, weathered planets. One side seems fiercely ornamented, the other sleek and birdlike. Curator: Absolutely. Coins like this weren’t just money; they were propaganda. Mithradates used them to project power, invoking Greek mythology while asserting his control. Editor: It's a very intentional act, weaponizing cultural symbols. But who was this targeting and what was the message he was trying to send? Curator: He wanted to tell his people and his enemies, "I am a ruler of divine right, and I am here to stay," blending Greek heritage with local power structures. Editor: So much weight, so much history compacted into such a tiny object. It really does carry the echoes of empires. Curator: Makes you wonder what stories it could tell if it could speak. Editor: Indeed. It’s a reminder of how empires rise and fall, and how objects outlive us all.