Coin of Mithradates VI, Amisos (Pontos) c. 2th century

Curator: This is a coin of Mithradates VI Eupator, from Amisos in Pontos. Editor: The worn metal creates a somber mood, but I admire how the images, especially the figure, are defined by line. Curator: Coins like these were crucial for Mithradates, as symbols of power and identity in a tumultuous era. His self-fashioning as a Hellenistic ruler, a protector against Roman expansion, is central. Editor: Note how the composition centres on the figure; the surrounding text and symbols are secondary to the form itself. Curator: Yes, and the very act of minting and circulating this coin was a direct political statement, a defiance of Roman economic control. It’s about asserting autonomy. Editor: Fascinating—seeing the coin through a sociopolitical lens truly enriches its visual impact. Curator: Exactly, and it reveals how a small object can carry immense historical weight.