Coin of Mausolos or Pixodoros c. 4th century

Curator: Looking at this coin of Mausolos or Pixodoros from the Harvard Art Museums, I’m struck by its smallness and the wear and tear. It really brings home the idea of history made tangible. Editor: Absolutely, and its intimacy. Considering coins were some of the first forms of mass media, who is being represented, and why? What identities were being elevated through their circulation? Curator: Well, this particular coin is fascinating because it embodies the socio-political landscape of the time. Mausolos and Pixodoros were satraps who ruled Caria under the Achaemenid Empire. Editor: Caria being a region where Greek and Persian cultures intersected, further complicated by its own indigenous traditions and identities. This coin becomes a potent symbol of intercultural dynamics and power. Curator: Exactly. The imagery chosen and its dissemination through currency reflects calculated decisions about how rulers sought to project power. Editor: The weight of that history contained in something so small. It’s quite moving. Curator: Indeed, a tangible connection to the past, sparking reflection on power, identity, and cultural exchange.