Coin of Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse c. 295

Curator: This coin, attributed to Agathokles of Syracuse, offers a glimpse into the ambitions of a tyrant, if you ask me. It's small, but commands attention. Editor: Absolutely. It feels like something you'd find buried in a pirate's treasure chest, all green and corroded. What do you read in it? Curator: The imagery! The symbolism is palpable. We see, on the obverse, the head of a nymph, perhaps a local deity, while the reverse might depict a thunderbolt or a royal emblem. Editor: Ah, the thunderbolt, a symbol of power and divine authority. It suggests Agathokles was keen to connect himself with the gods, legitimizing his rule through visual association. Curator: I'm intrigued by how he used such a common, everyday object to project a very specific image of himself. It's almost like branding, but for an empire. Editor: Right, and the very fact that it’s a coin speaks volumes. Money, power, legacy, all intertwined in this tiny, weathered piece. Curator: So much history pressed into such a small space. Editor: A tiny time capsule, indeed. Thanks for unpacking that.