Stater of Tarsos under Mazaios c. 361

Editor: Here we have the Stater of Tarsos under Mazaios. The details are worn, but I can make out what looks like a lion on one side. What can you tell me about this coin? Curator: This coin speaks volumes about power and cultural negotiation. Mazaios, a Persian satrap who later submitted to Alexander the Great, used coinage to legitimize his rule. The imagery, likely a lion, signified strength and authority, echoing Mesopotamian symbolism. Editor: So, it’s not just currency, but also propaganda? Curator: Precisely. It was a tool of political communication, broadcasting Mazaios’s power within a complex socio-political landscape. Coins like these reflect how rulers navigated identity and control. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about regarding the role of art in asserting authority. Curator: Indeed. It reveals the public role of art and the politics embedded within even the smallest objects.