Coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria, Antioch? c. 175

Editor: This is a coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria. It's worn smooth with age, but I can still make out the imagery. How do you interpret this little piece of history? Curator: Oh, it whispers stories, doesn't it? For me, coins are little portals to a ruler's self-image. The image on this coin is a statement about power, divinity, and probably a good dose of wishful thinking. It's a form of propaganda, isn’t it? What does it say to you? Editor: That’s a good point! I hadn’t thought about it as propaganda. It just seemed like an artifact. Curator: Exactly! Everything communicates. And that, my friend, is why art history is so fascinating. It recontextualizes the everyday. Editor: Thanks! I'll definitely look at coins differently from now on!