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

Editor: So, this is a Coin of Mithradates VI, from Amisos, dating back to antiquity, and made of metal. It feels pretty weighty despite its small size, doesn't it? What strikes you most about it? Curator: Ah, a tangible piece of history! For me, it's the layers of narrative packed into that tiny, worn surface. I wonder what stories this coin could tell, eh? Do you see the symbolism, the eagle perhaps, and the royal portrait? Editor: I see the eagle, yes. So, what does it mean, this symbolism? Curator: Well, the eagle could represent power, divinity, or even victory. The portrait, of course, is Mithradates himself, projecting his authority. Imagine the hands it passed through, the transactions it facilitated, the weight of an empire in a single coin! Editor: I’ll never look at spare change the same way again. Curator: Me neither! Every coin, a tiny echo of the past.