Eight prutot of Herod I, the Great c. 40 - 44

Curator: Here we have "Eight prutot of Herod I, the Great", a coin that weighs 9.66 grams. Editor: It looks so worn, like an ancient pebble. The color is striking too – a blend of verdigris and deep earth tones. Curator: Indeed, the wear speaks volumes. The imagery is difficult to discern now, but originally it would have carried important symbols of Herod’s reign. Editor: So, how would the coins have been made? Were they cast or struck? I'm curious about the labor behind each one. Curator: Struck, likely. Each strike an assertion of power, the leader's image imprinted onto the daily lives of his subjects. It's a powerful act of visual propaganda. Editor: Absolutely, the process itself is inherently political, isn't it? To control the means of exchange is to control a narrative. Curator: Precisely. Looking at it, I can’t help but feel the weight of history, of empires rising and falling, all captured in this small, unassuming object. Editor: For me, it's about the materiality; the corroded surface speaks of time's relentless work, highlighting a fascinating interplay of intent and decay. Curator: A poignant reminder of how symbols persist, even as their original meanings shift and fade with time. Editor: A tangible connection to the past, nonetheless. It’s hard to fathom all the hands this coin passed through!