Stater of Mithrapata c. 380

Editor: Here we have a Stater of Mithrapata, a silver coin from Lycia. One side shows a lion, the other a figure in profile. What do you see in this piece, beyond its obvious age? Curator: The lion, a symbol of power and royalty across cultures, appears here restrained, almost domesticated. Might this reflect the satrap's own complex relationship to power under Persian rule? The portrait on the other side, perhaps Mithrapata himself, offers a counterpoint – a human face striving for permanence. What cultural memory was Mithrapata trying to forge? Editor: So, the coin becomes more than just currency; it's a statement. Curator: Precisely. It's a carefully constructed image intended to resonate through time, connecting Mithrapata to both animal strength and human governance. An early form of branding, if you will. Editor: That makes me look at coins in a totally different light.