Coin of Ptolemy II Philadelphus c. 285

Curator: Here we have a coin of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It immediately strikes me as powerful despite its size. The profile, though worn, has a regal quality, and the eagle on the reverse side evokes strength and authority. Curator: Indeed. Coins like this weren't just currency, but tools of power. They circulated Ptolemy’s image, shaping public perception of his rule and legitimacy. The eagle, of course, a long-standing symbol of power and divinity, reinforces that authority. Editor: Absolutely. And the choice to represent the ruler in profile is interesting, a classical trope that lends an air of timelessness, almost deifying him. I wonder how the average person in Ptolemy’s time reacted to seeing his likeness on something so commonplace. Curator: It's a potent form of propaganda, bringing the ruler, or his carefully crafted image, into daily life. We see the same strategies echoed throughout history in different forms. Editor: It’s fascinating how these symbols endure, shaping our perception even now. Curator: Precisely.