Tetradrachm of Seleukos II, Sardis c. 246

Curator: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Seleukos II, made of silver and once circulated in Sardis. The weight is around 17 grams. Editor: It's beautifully worn, like a pebble smoothed by time. The figure on the back, she looks so elegant. Curator: That's Apollo leaning on a tripod, referencing the Delphic oracle. Minting these coins was a direct assertion of Seleukos's authority and the control of resources. Editor: There's a human touch to it, a world of ambition distilled into this small, weighty thing. I can't help but wonder who might have clutched it, what stories it could tell. Curator: Indeed, the coin itself becomes a medium for propaganda and trade, binding regions to the Seleucid empire. Editor: Absolutely, a reminder that even the smallest object can carry so much historical weight. Curator: Yes, and its survival allows us a peek into the economic and political life of the Seleucid period. Editor: It's both a relic and a living thread, connecting us to the past.