Hemilitron of Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse c. 310

Editor: Here we have a Hemilitron, which is a bronze coin made by Agathokles of Syracuse. It's small, a bit corroded, but feels weighty with history. What leaps out at you? Curator: I find myself wondering about touch. Imagine Agathokles himself holding it. Was he pleased with the lion, a symbol of power? Or did he fret about its imperfections, its inability to fully capture his aspirations? It's a funny thing to consider. Editor: So, you're thinking about the gap between intention and execution? Curator: Precisely! And how history has its own way of smoothing things out, or not. What begins as a statement becomes a whisper, a question, something we can only partly grasp. Editor: I guess this makes me think about value, both monetarily and culturally. Curator: A poignant thought! The coin’s worth shifts, doesn't it? It echoes how power itself is a currency, constantly fluctuating. Food for thought.