Drachm of Vardanes II 55 CE

Editor: The Drachm of Vardanes II—note the scale, 3.8 grams—presents a fascinating double profile in weathered silver. Curator: Indeed. Observe how the artist uses symmetry to convey power and authority through the careful arrangement of elements. Editor: I’m struck by the handcraft here. This coin was more than a medium of exchange; it was a tangible product of the Parthian economy, shaped by the labor of artisans. Curator: Semiotically, the imagery—the ruler's portrait, the inscriptions—operates on a level of symbolic exchange, reinforcing the legitimacy of Vardanes’ reign. Editor: Yet the wear and tear suggest its journey, passed from hand to hand, entering the flow of everyday life and commerce. Curator: Absolutely, and reflecting on its materiality and composition allows for a deeper appreciation of its historical resonance. Editor: Precisely. I’m leaving here thinking a lot about the economic systems of the time.