coin of Matthathias Antigonus 40-37 BCE

Curator: Here we have a coin of Matthathias Antigonus, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums, weighing in at 14 grams. Editor: It looks like it has lived a life, hasn’t it? You can almost feel the weight of history in its worn edges and verdigris patina. What stories could this little coin tell? Curator: Indeed! Coins like this offer a glimpse into the political and social landscape of the time. The imagery—the double cornucopia, the possible inscription—these were carefully chosen symbols. Editor: It's amazing how such a small object can hold so much meaning. I’m thinking about whose hands it passed through, what everyday transactions it facilitated... Curator: Absolutely. It connects us to a specific moment, a specific ruler, and the economic realities of his reign. It speaks to power, belief, and the everyday lives of people long gone. Editor: A tiny window into a lost world, rendered in metal. I find that incredibly moving.