Twenty-Five Litrae of Agathokles,Tyrant of Syracuse c. 310

Curator: This coin, "Twenty-Five Litrae of Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse," is attributed to Agathokles himself. Just imagine— a ruler designing his own currency! Editor: It has a stoic, almost weathered feel, doesn't it? The imagery is very striking—the youthful portrait on one side, and then that peculiar, stylized symbol on the other. Curator: That's right, the symbol is usually identified as a "prowot," possibly related to nautical power or perhaps something more esoteric. Editor: It's fascinating how these images can carry emotional weight across millennia. It speaks to a desire for legacy, power, and perhaps a connection to something divine. Curator: Absolutely. A little snapshot into the aspirations and anxieties of a man who ruled over Syracuse! It’s amazing how much meaning can be held in 3.41 grams. Editor: It makes you wonder what stories it could tell if it could talk, or at least, what pocket it was jingling around in all those years ago!