Coin of Mithradates VI, Amisos (Pontos) c. 2th century

Curator: Here we have a coin from Amisos, Pontos, minted under Mithradates VI Eupator. Its weight is 7.49 grams. Editor: Oh, it looks ancient, and a little battered. I can almost feel the weight of history! Curator: Indeed. The obverse shows a diademed head of Mithradates, while the reverse possibly depicts Pegasus. Note the iconographic choices. Editor: It's funny, the regal face on one side contrasts so much with the almost ghostly Pegasus. It feels like power fading, you know? Curator: The coin's materiality speaks to the passage of time, its symbolic value superseded by its archaeological significance. Editor: For sure. Holding this, you’re holding not just metal, but echoes of a whole empire. It's pretty humbling, actually.