Coin of Antiochos III, the Great of Syria c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have a coin of Antiochos III, the Great of Syria, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Its weathered surface and diminutive scale project a palpable sense of history and the ephemeral nature of power. Curator: Indeed. This humble object, weighing a mere 1.35 grams, served as a potent symbol of royal authority and economic control. The imagery, though worn, would have conveyed specific messages about Antiochos's reign, influencing public perception and reinforcing his legitimacy. Editor: I am intrigued by the interplay of the circular form with the obscured images. The circular composition emphasizes the coin's function as a unit of currency while simultaneously obscuring a detailed reading of the symbolism. Curator: These coins acted as mini billboards, spreading propaganda and consolidating cultural identity. What stories could this coin tell? What hands did it pass through? Editor: It leaves me pondering the aesthetics of decay, where meaning is both present and absent, offering a meditation on time and the fragmentation of memory. Curator: I agree. It offers a glimpse into the vast tapestry of history through such a tiny peephole.