Tetradrachm of Antiochos I Soter of Syria, Seleucia on the Tigris c. 280

Editor: Here we have a silver tetradrachm of Antiochos I Soter, likely from Seleucia on the Tigris. It's fascinating how much detail they packed onto such a small surface! What can you tell me about this coin? Curator: Consider the physical labor involved in minting these coins. The value isn't just face value; it's in the material itself, the silver, and the skilled craftspeople who transformed it into currency, legitimizing power through mass production. What does this tell us about the control and reach of Antiochos? Editor: So, it's not just an image of power, but a product of it? Curator: Exactly. The materiality speaks to the Seleucid empire's economic and social structures. It forces us to question: Who benefited from this system, and who was exploited in the coin’s creation and circulation? Editor: I never thought of it that way. It really gives a whole new perspective to the study of ancient coins!