Coin of Cleopatra 

Editor: This is "Coin of Cleopatra," a copper coin likely dating to Cleopatra VII's reign. Considering how small it is, it's really weathered! What can we learn from its symbols? Curator: Consider the enduring power of coinage to disseminate images. Can you see the regal portrait? It embodies power, communicating Cleopatra’s authority and divine right as a ruler. Editor: It's faint, but I see it. What about the bird? Curator: The eagle symbolizes power, victory, and imperial strength, echoing Roman influence. Together, what do these symbols evoke for you about Cleopatra's strategic position? Editor: They suggest she was strategically combining Egyptian and Roman symbols to maintain power. That's amazing! Curator: Indeed. It reveals the layers of cultural memory and political strategy embedded within such a small object.