Tetradrachm of Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse c. 305

Editor: This is a Tetradrachm created by Agathokles of Syracuse, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The detail is striking, but it feels a bit haunting, like peering into a lost world. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Ah, yes, a relic whispered from history! For me, it's a pocket-sized drama. Agathokles, the artist, was a tyrant, you know, a real character! See how he put his own idealized face on one side? It's pure propaganda, slickly done. The goddess Nike on the other side? Victory, of course! It makes you wonder what battles, both real and metaphorical, he was fighting, doesn't it? Editor: So, it's not just a coin; it's a statement. Fascinating. Curator: Precisely. A tyrant's bold selfie, if you will. It's like a tiny, metal-clad power move across centuries. Editor: That really shifts my perspective. Thanks!