Coin of Alexander I Balas of Syria c. 152

Editor: So, this is a coin of Alexander I Balas of Syria. It's quite small, but packed with imagery. What do you see in this piece beyond just currency? Curator: This coin, though small, speaks volumes about power and legitimacy in the Hellenistic world. Alexander I Balas, a ruler who claimed Seleucid lineage, used coinage as propaganda. Note the imagery – likely a deity on one side and perhaps a royal portrait on the other. These symbols were carefully chosen to project authority and connect the ruler to both divine and ancestral power. Editor: So, the coin isn't just money, but a carefully constructed message? Curator: Precisely. Coins were among the most widely circulated images, influencing public perception and solidifying the ruler's image. Consider how the distribution and imagery on this coin impacted the social and political landscape of the time. What do you think about this? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. It's fascinating how a simple coin could have such a big public role! Curator: Indeed. It reminds us that even seemingly mundane objects can be powerful tools of communication and control.