Coin of of Syracuse under Pyrrhos c. 278

Curator: Here we have a coin issued during the reign of Pyrrhos of Epirus in Syracuse, weighing about 11 grams. Editor: It's easy to miss the details at first glance! The patina lends it a ghostly air. Curator: Absolutely. The coin features a portrait, likely of Pyrrhos himself, on one side. The reverse shows a figure, perhaps Nike, the personification of victory. Editor: This imagery of victory, though, speaks to a complex narrative when we look at the Pyrrhic wars. Pyrrhos won battles, but at such a cost. Curator: Right, the coin, minted in Syracuse, speaks volumes about the ambitions and the ultimate limitations of Pyrrhos' power. Editor: And how these seemingly simple symbols can hold so much weight. Curator: Indeed, it's a testament to how objects can reflect not just power, but the human cost of it as well. Editor: So much conveyed within this small, aged artifact.