Tetradrachm of Antiochos III the Great of Syria c. 223

Curator: This is a tetradrachm, a silver coin, depicting Antiochos III the Great of Syria. Editor: Something about the expression on his face...distant, but also weary. What stories this coin could tell. Curator: Coins such as these were powerful tools of propaganda, circulating the ruler’s image and thus his authority. The reverse even depicts the goddess Tyche, symbol of fortune. Editor: Fortune, fate...a loaded image to be sure. I wonder, did people feel comforted seeing Tyche, or did it amplify anxieties about their own precarious lives? It has a bittersweet quality, don't you think? Curator: Indeed. The coin’s imagery is designed to evoke feelings of stability, connecting Antiochos to both divine power and prosperity. Editor: So, a pocket-sized prayer, in a way. That's heavy. Curator: It is quite striking how material culture provides insight into the psychological and cultural hopes of the past. Editor: Totally. Makes you think about what our pocket change says about us.