Tetradrachm of Ptolemy II c. 285

Editor: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Ptolemy II. The coin is a striking artifact – the eagle on the reverse is just phenomenal. What do you see in this piece, in terms of the history it whispers? Curator: Ah, whispers indeed! For me, these coins are tiny time capsules, imprints of power. The portrait isn't just a likeness; it’s a carefully constructed image, a statement. That eagle? It’s not just a bird; it's Zeus, legitimizing Ptolemy's rule in Egypt. I wonder, how do coins like these shape our understanding of rulers from so long ago? Editor: It's almost like propaganda in miniature. Curator: Exactly. And considering how long these coins circulated, that message had staying power. Editor: I’ll never look at spare change the same way! Curator: Me neither. Art in your pocket, what a concept!