Drachm of Ariobarzanes I 96 BCE-63 BCE

Editor: Here we have the Drachm of Ariobarzanes I. It's a small, silver coin, seemingly worn with age and use. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The creation of currency reveals volumes about a society’s material concerns. How was the silver sourced and processed? Who controlled the minting process? The images are telling; they acted as propaganda, shaping social narratives. The coin embodies power relationships. Editor: So, it’s less about aesthetics and more about its function within society? Curator: Precisely! Consider the labor involved, the value assigned, and how its circulation impacted daily life. It's a material object deeply embedded in its economic and social context. Editor: That definitely gives me a new perspective. I never thought of a coin having so much to say about production.