Plated Drachm of Mithradates II of Parthia, Rhagai c. 123 - 188

Curator: Isn't it wild to hold a piece of history like this Plated Drachm of Mithradates II? It's a coin, probably from Rhagai, and I just keep thinking about all the hands it must have passed through. Editor: It's amazing to think about! The level of detail, even on something so small, is striking. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Oh, definitely the portrait. I imagine Mithradates himself wanting to project power. But then, the wear and tear suggests a different story—of economies rising and falling, empires shifting. It makes me wonder, you know? Editor: Wonder what, exactly? Curator: If power is really just about the image we project, or if time always has the last laugh. It's humbling. What do you think it tells us about leadership and legacy? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. I was simply marveling at the aesthetic. Curator: Art always has more layers than we initially see! Editor: I'll remember that. Thanks for your insights.