Coin of Philip V of Macedonia c. 211

Curator: Here we have a coin issued by Philip V of Macedonia. It weighs just under 4 grams and is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: There’s something so haunting about seeing a ruler's face this way, almost as if it's been pulled from a dream. Curator: Indeed. Coins like this were not just currency. They were a form of propaganda, projecting the king's image and power throughout his realm. Editor: I see a portrait of him on one side, though worn smooth with time. And on the other, a figure standing. Curator: It’s an image of Zeus, a symbolic claim of divine right and authority. Editor: Amazing how something so small could carry such weight—literally and figuratively. It’s a reminder of empires past. Curator: Precisely. The study of these objects helps us understand the political and economic landscape of the Hellenistic world. Editor: Well, for me, it's a whisper from the past, almost tactile, connecting us to a distant era. Curator: I agree. It's a tangible link to history.