Coin of Mithradates II of Parthia (uncertain attribution) c. 123 - 188

Editor: This is a coin, possibly of Mithradates II of Parthia. It's amazing to hold something like this, imagining who might have carried it. What stories do you think it holds? Curator: A coin isn't just currency; it's a potent symbol. The ruler's portrait broadcasts power, linking their image to daily transactions. Consider the symbolic weight of control over coinage – what does it communicate about the Parthian empire's self-image? Editor: So, beyond the economic value, it's a statement. Curator: Precisely. It's cultural memory, condensed into a portable object. The wear and tear speak of its journey through time. Editor: I never thought of a coin holding so much history. Curator: Symbols always whisper stories, don't they?