Tetradrachm of Antiochos VIII Grypos of Syria c. 121

Editor: This is a Tetradrachm of Antiochos VIII Grypos of Syria. The silver is so worn, but you can still make out the regal profile. How would a coin like this function in society? Curator: Coins like this were crucial for projecting power. Placing the ruler's image on currency was a deliberate act, connecting economic transactions with the legitimacy and authority of Antiochos VIII. The imagery broadcast his reign to everyone using the coin. Editor: So, it was less about the coin's intrinsic value and more about the message it carried? Curator: Precisely. It's about how power uses art to solidify its position within a society. We often forget the politics of imagery, even on something as small as a coin. Editor: That’s a fascinating insight! I'll definitely look at currency differently from now on.