Coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria, Antioch c. 175

Editor: Here we have a coin of Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria. It's quite small, and you can tell it has been handled and circulated quite a bit. What can we learn from something like this? Curator: Coins are powerful propaganda tools. As such they are invaluable in understanding the public image a ruler wished to project. How do you think this particular coin functions in that regard? Editor: Hmm, the imagery feels very deliberate. The portrait, though worn, still conveys a sense of power and authority. Curator: Precisely. And think about the context. Antiochos IV styled himself "Epiphanes," meaning "God Manifest." How might this coin have reinforced his claim to divinity and legitimized his rule in the eyes of his subjects? Editor: That's a great question. I hadn't considered how directly coins could communicate political ideas to a broad audience. Curator: Indeed. By studying such objects, we gain insights into the socio-political landscape of the time, and the ways in which power was negotiated and maintained. Editor: That's a great perspective. Thank you.