Coin of Mithradates VI, Amisos (Pontos) c. 2th century

Curator: Here we have a silver coin, likely used during the reign of Mithradates VI in Amisos, part of Pontos. It weighs just over 7 grams. Editor: What a fascinatingly worn piece. The scratching and rubbing give it an almost ghostly quality, as if history is only barely clinging to its surface. Curator: Exactly! The coin speaks volumes about power and propaganda. Mithradates used coinage to promote his image and legitimacy, influencing public opinion. Editor: And control over economic structures, ensuring his reign’s influence permeated daily life, from grand political events down to the most basic transaction. I wonder, what did it mean for marginalized populations, in terms of gender and race, to hold such a symbol of power in their hands? Curator: It is certainly a potent symbol, both then and now. It makes you think about the narratives we carry with us, and who has the power to create them. Editor: Indeed. It is a humble object, yet it’s rife with implications.