Poathumous stater of Lysimachos of Thrace, Uncertain Mint after 281

Editor: So, this is a posthumous stater of Lysimachos of Thrace. It's gold and quite small. I’m struck by how something so valuable was used as currency, but also as a way to project power. How do you see this piece functioning within its historical context? Curator: It's fascinating, isn't it? The coin served as both a medium of exchange and a propagandistic tool. Consider who controlled the mints, and whose image was being circulated. What message do you think this portrait of Lysimachos, even after his death, conveyed about his authority? Editor: I guess it was about maintaining legitimacy and reinforcing the idea of his rule, even in absence. It's like saying, "Even though I'm gone, my power lives on." Curator: Precisely! And think about who saw and used these coins. It was a constant reminder of who was in charge. The coin acted as a miniature monument, circulating ideas of power and legacy. Editor: That's an insightful point. I hadn't considered the coin as a circulating monument. Curator: These objects tell us much more than just monetary value; they show us how power was performed and perpetuated.