Coin of Seleukos II, Sardis c. 246

Curator: Right now we’re looking at a small coin, apparently minted in Sardis for Seleukos II. It's remarkable how much history and artistry can be packed into something so tiny, isn't it? Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by how weathered it is. It feels like holding time itself, almost… a whisper from a forgotten era. Curator: Definitely, and this coin carries the weight of Seleukos II’s ambition and the visual language of power. We see symbols of authority, perhaps a deity on one side, which were immediately recognizable in that era. Editor: I find it interesting that even in its worn condition, the images still resonate. The symbols persist despite the degradation, hinting at how we assign worth and meaning. I can almost feel the weight of expectations it carried for its original owner. Curator: Exactly. And remember, this wasn't just money; it was propaganda, a tangible piece of Seleukos' claim to rule, now holding a different value as a fragment of the past. Editor: It really makes you wonder about all the other hands it has touched. I am left with a sense of continuity between our world and theirs.