Coin of Seleukos II of Syria c. 246

Curator: Here we have a coin of Seleukos II of Syria, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Looking at it, I immediately think of a relic, a whisper of empire. Editor: Indeed. Consider the implications of minting: controlling resources, labor, and the visual narrative. What sort of societal impact did this particular piece have in its time? Curator: It speaks to the power of the Seleucid dynasty. The coin itself, though small, represents a complex system of trade, taxation, and propaganda, literally putting the ruler's image into circulation. Editor: I feel a peculiar sense of intimacy, though. It is small, and the ruler's visage has been weathered over time, becoming softened. Curator: Time takes its toll, doesn't it? But even faded, the impression of control remains. Editor: The material itself seems so unassuming, yet it carried immense symbolic weight. Curator: Exactly. A tiny token representing vast power, and the labor required to extract and shape it. Editor: So much contained within such a small piece of metal. Curator: A tangible link to the past, and a reminder of the empires built on material exchange.