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

Curator: Here we have a coin, minted in Amisos, Pontos, under the authority of Mithradates VI Eupator. Editor: Well, it looks well-worn, doesn't it? Almost lunar, with those faded images like memories struggling to stay put. Curator: Precisely. One side features a shield adorned with a gorgon's head, while the other possibly shows Nike. Editor: Nike—victory. Funny, to think of such grand concepts shrunk onto this tiny, weighty thing. Did someone clutch this, hoping for luck? Curator: Perhaps. Coins were not merely currency, but propaganda. The Gorgon was also an apotropaic symbol. Editor: So, a little charm and a bold statement all in one? A pocket-sized declaration of power. I like it. Curator: Yes. A tiny object loaded with aspirations, fears, and myth—very human, isn’t it? Editor: Indeed. Something to ponder, the next time I pull change from my own pocket.