Barbarous imitation of Heliokles c. 140

Curator: This coin, titled "Barbarous imitation of Heliokles," is currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, the roughness strikes me. It feels less like a formal portrait and more like a statement about power, or perhaps the lack thereof. Curator: Indeed, the coin's very title suggests a socio-political commentary. Its status as a "barbarous imitation" points to the complex relationship between power, identity, and cultural appropriation in antiquity. Editor: So, it’s speaking to authenticity, about who gets to define themselves versus who is defined by others. I imagine the economics of such forgeries also impacted local populations. Curator: Absolutely. The coin invites us to consider the economic and social contexts of its creation, the ways in which marginalized communities may have engaged with or resisted dominant power structures. Editor: It’s more than just an object; it's a symbol of cultural exchange and perhaps even resistance, embedded in layers of historical context. Curator: Precisely. Viewing it through an intersectional lens reveals its significance in discussions of ancient geopolitics. Editor: It's amazing how such a small object can open up such a vast landscape of thought.