Tetradrachm of Seleucus I, Seleuceia on the Tigris c. 305

Curator: This is a tetradrachm of Seleucus I, minted in Seleuceia on the Tigris. The silver content alone speaks volumes about the economic strategies employed. Editor: My eye is immediately drawn to the figure enthroned on the reverse. What power dynamics are encoded in that image? Curator: The material itself, silver, was a powerful statement. Its controlled extraction and minting reinforced Seleucus's authority. It was a tool of governance. Editor: Absolutely, and the seated figure, often interpreted as Zeus, is laden with symbolism. The eagle, the scepter...symbols of authority and divine favor. Curator: Consider the labor involved in extracting and refining the silver. These coins represent a massive mobilization of resources and human effort. Editor: Indeed, and this imagery would have resonated deeply. Seleucus was deliberately associating himself with established deities and concepts of kingship. Curator: And while that imagery helped, the coin also served as a unit of value. It facilitated trade, paid soldiers—fueled the Seleucid war machine. Editor: Right. The tetradrachm functions as a microcosm of Seleucid power, a testament to the enduring legacy of symbolism in forging identity. Curator: Seeing the work through the lens of its production gives so much insight to the dynamics of exchange in the ancient world. Editor: And studying those embedded images helps me imagine the past and how people navigated their beliefs.