Coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria, Tyre c. 175

Curator: We're looking at a bronze coin, about the size of a thumbnail. It was issued in Tyre during the reign of Antiochos IV Epiphanes, the king of Syria in the 2nd century BCE. Editor: It's rough around the edges, like it's seen things. I’m immediately drawn to the tree on one side; it feels ancient, almost whispering stories. Curator: Indeed! On one side, you have an image of the king, though it’s worn with age, and the other side features a palm tree, a symbol of Tyre itself. Editor: I love how something so small can carry so much history. Imagine all the hands this passed through, the transactions it witnessed! Curator: Coins like these served not just as currency but as propaganda, projecting the ruler's image and reinforcing their power. Editor: It’s incredible to think about the journey this little piece of metal has taken—a tangible link to a world so distant and yet so connected to our own. Curator: It is a profound reminder of how material culture shapes our understanding of the past. Editor: Yes, and how art, even in its most functional form, can be deeply evocative.