Coin of Ptolemy I c. 306

Editor: This is a coin of Ptolemy I, a small but weighty piece of history. It's amazing to think of it passing through hands centuries ago. What stories could it tell? What strikes you most about it? Curator: The wear and tear, that's its biography etched onto the surface, isn't it? The artistry is incredible, this tiny god-like head, the eagle of power…it's a pocket-sized propaganda machine! Did it work? Hard to say, but it's sure compelling. Editor: Propaganda...in your pocket! I'd never thought of it that way. Curator: Exactly! We often forget how art served very practical, persuasive roles. And the best art always makes you think, doesn't it? It's like holding a whisper from the past.