Coin of the Oetaei, Thessaly c. 400

Editor: This is a coin of the Oetaei from Thessaly. It is worn with age, but what symbols do you see within it? Curator: The wear itself is symbolic, isn't it? Consider what it represents – countless transactions, journeys, and lives it has touched. What figure do you notice on the coin's face? Editor: It looks like a bull. Curator: Precisely. The bull often represented power, virility, and prosperity in ancient Thessaly. Its presence on the coin echoes a culture deeply intertwined with agriculture and animal husbandry. What does that evoke in you? Editor: It makes me wonder about the daily lives of the people who used this. Curator: Indeed. It is like holding a piece of their world in your hand. We can learn a lot from this ancient object.