Coin of Mithradates VI, Amisos (Pontos) c. 2th century

Curator: So, here we have a coin, made for Mithradates VI in Amisos, now part of modern-day Turkey. It’s a small thing, worn smooth with age. Editor: It feels like a relic of a time where power was both tangible and symbolic, like a little talisman. Heavy with history, despite its size. Curator: Absolutely. Mithradates was quite the character, a king who saw himself as a liberator from Roman oppression. This coin is a statement, a piece of propaganda, perhaps? Editor: Propaganda, definitely. The imagery, though stylized, speaks volumes. The way rulers depict themselves speaks to their values and how they’re trying to shape their legacy. Curator: It's a fascinating glimpse into a world of power struggles and self-promotion, even through something as small as a coin. You can almost feel the weight of history in your hand. Editor: Indeed, and remembering whose hands this passed through, what transactions it witnessed, makes me really appreciate the coin as more than just currency, but also a witness.