Tetradrachm of Mithradates VI of Pontus 90 - 89 BCE

Curator: Here we have a silver Tetradrachm, minted under Mithradates VI Eupator, a ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus. The artistry here is striking for such a small item. Editor: The relief! It almost feels sculptural, especially the king's hair—and there is such melancholic weight in his gaze. Curator: He certainly cultivated a specific image. The coin depicts him as a Hellenistic ruler, styled after Alexander the Great, a conscious invoking of power and divinity. Editor: The formal elements support this. The sharp lines of the profile, contrasted with the softer curls, create a dynamic tension. Then, the inscription and the stag… the composition feels like an attempt to compress a vast kingdom onto a tiny surface. Curator: Indeed. The stag, a symbol of Pontus, is framed by ivy, associated with Dionysus, further blending Mithradates's image with myth and power. He fashioned himself as a protector and leader. Editor: Seeing how meticulously crafted this little coin is, it really does bring an entire persona to light. Curator: Absolutely. It is a symbol not only of monetary value but also of Mithradates’s calculated self-image and the cultural memory he sought to construct. Editor: It's remarkable how such a compact object can reveal so much about image and power.