Coin of Mithradates VI Eupator c. 120 - 163

Curator: This coin, attributed to Mithradates VI Eupator, now residing in the Harvard Art Museums, presents a fascinating, if corroded, glimpse into royal iconography. Editor: My first impression is one of faded power—the details are worn, but even through the tarnish, I sense a potent symbolism struggling to surface. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the imagery: likely depicting a ruler and perhaps a deity, these aren't just images; they're carefully constructed narratives, intended to project authority. The creation and distribution of currency was a critical part of expressing Roman influence. Editor: And to what end? The coin’s materiality – its very existence as a circulating object – speaks to the broader socio-political aims of Mithradates, doesn’t it? A tangible reminder of his reign in every transaction. Curator: Precisely. It’s a potent reminder that even the smallest artifact can hold volumes about the ambitions and anxieties of its time. Editor: Looking at it this way adds so much weight to such a small object.