Coin of Antiochos IX Kyzikenos of Syria, Seleukeia c. 2th century

Editor: Here we have a coin of Antiochos IX Kyzikenos. It's quite small. The wear on its surface makes me wonder about its history of use. How do we understand this object as more than just currency? Curator: Its materiality speaks volumes. The coin's bronze composition was not inherently valuable but was assigned value through socio-political decree. Consider the labor involved in extracting, refining, and stamping the metal. How does the coin reflect power dynamics? Editor: So, the coin itself is a product of its political and social context. I see now how this little object can reveal so much about its time. Curator: Precisely. And its distribution reflects patterns of trade, influence, and consumption.