Hemidrachm of Demetrios Poliorketes of Macedonia, Tarsos c. 298

Curator: This is a Hemidrachm of Demetrios Poliorketes, a silver coin struck in Tarsos during his reign. The coin weighs just over two grams. I’m immediately struck by its diminutive size. Editor: Even so, there's a monumental quality! Look at Nike alighting on the prow of a ship—the power dynamics, a winged female figure representing victory, literally descending upon naval dominance. What does that signal about the emperor’s sense of self? Curator: Exactly. It's propaganda, plain and simple. Demetrios was quite the self-promoter. The other side depicts Poseidon, god of the sea, further reinforcing his naval power and ambition. Editor: The material—silver—also speaks to power. The act of minting, controlling resources, and stamping the image of oneself onto currency... it's an assertion of dominance over both land and sea. Curator: And perhaps a reflection of the social hierarchy. Silver as a medium, reserved for currency, further elevates its inherent value and also that of the Macedonian kings. Editor: It's fascinating how much meaning is packed into such a small object. The material announces the message as much as the imagery. Curator: Absolutely, I think understanding both can really enrich one's experience.