Coin of Antiochos I Soter of Syria, Antioch c. 281

Curator: Here we have a coin of Antiochos I Soter of Syria, found in Antioch. Editor: It looks so tactile, worn smooth by centuries of exchange. Curator: Indeed. Coins like these were not just currency; they were potent symbols of power and identity. The image of Antiochos I, for example, would have conveyed a very specific message about his legitimacy and authority, especially in the wake of Alexander’s conquests. Editor: The very act of minting such a coin involved processes that consolidated power. The acquisition of metals, the labor of artisans, the control of exchange. It all speaks to empire. Curator: Precisely. And beyond just Antiochos’s image, we should consider the other symbols and inscriptions on the coin, and how those elements construct and maintain a specific cultural narrative. Editor: Looking at the physical coin, I wonder about the lives that held it, the transactions it facilitated. It's a direct link to a world of labor and trade. Curator: Exactly, and by delving into the coin's historical and social context, we get a glimpse into that world. Editor: It's a humble object, yet holds so many stories within its materiality.