Tetradrachm of Ptolemy II c. 285

Curator: Here we have a silver tetradrachm coin from the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphos. Editor: It looks so worn, but grand! I'm struck by how this tiny piece of metal carries such weight. Curator: Absolutely. These coins were not just currency. They are vehicles of power, disseminating Ptolemaic imagery throughout the kingdom and beyond. Editor: Yes, and consider the labor involved. Each coin hand-struck, the die carved in detail, the silver mined and refined. It's all a testament to resource control. Curator: Coins like these offer us a glimpse into Ptolemaic society. The face of Ptolemy as a god, the eagle as a symbol of power. The politics of imagery, indeed. Editor: And all of this pressed into a small object—carried, traded, lost, found. A tangible connection to the past. Curator: Precisely. The coin, as a political statement, is now a valuable historical artifact. Editor: It really highlights how something so small can tell us so much about power and production.