Coin of Prusias II, Bithynia c. 183

Curator: Before us is a coin of Prusias II, Bithynia. Considering it's a monetary object, I'm immediately thinking of its materiality and the social context of its use. Editor: The power of symbols is strong with this coin! The imagery – the portrait and the horse – it projects authority, doesn't it? Curator: It's certainly a statement. The weight of the coin, the metal it's made from...all these material aspects speak to trade, labor, and perhaps even the politics of the time. Editor: Yes, and those images, the horse especially, they weren't chosen at random. It evokes a history, a cultural memory of power and strength. Curator: Absolutely, and that memory is encoded in the very material, passed from hand to hand. Think of how many transactions it witnessed! Editor: It's fascinating how it connects us, across millennia, to the aspirations of a ruler. I find myself pondering the layers of meaning embedded within this small object. Curator: Indeed, it's a reminder that even something as seemingly mundane as a coin can be a potent artifact of labor, trade, and historical power. Editor: And for me, it underscores how carefully selected imagery can resonate through time.