Coin of Sardis under Philip II 244 - 249

Curator: Before us is a coin of Sardis, issued under Philip II. Editor: Its worn surface speaks of countless transactions. I wonder about the labor that went into its production, the mining, smelting, and striking. Curator: Exactly. And consider the power dynamics embedded in its creation. Philip II, asserting dominance, dictating the iconography. Was this accessibility or a veiled tool of propaganda? Editor: A tangible link to the king. The material itself, bronze, would have been sourced and controlled. What sort of access did people have to bronze, and how much was it available for the common person? Curator: It's a fascinating entry point into examining the interplay between economics, identity, and political power in ancient Sardis. Editor: Absolutely. A lot of thought can go into such a small, mundane object. Curator: Indeed. It all makes you wonder who last held the coin.