Coin of Seleukos II, Apamea c. 246

Curator: We're looking at a coin of Seleukos II, hailing from Apamea. It's a small bronze piece, held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels weighty, doesn't it? Like holding history in your palm, even though it's just over a gram. The patina gives it this quiet, mossy essence. Curator: Absolutely, and this seemingly simple object speaks volumes about power, trade, and the construction of identity in the Seleucid Empire. The bull's head is likely a symbol of royal authority and fertility. Editor: A symbol chosen to resonate, to say, "We are strong, we provide." I wonder how many hands this little bull passed through, each with their own story. Curator: It's a poignant reminder of the economic systems and ideological frameworks that sustained empires, systems that often marginalized and exploited many. Editor: I find myself connecting to the human touch that minted this, the artistry meant to carry a message, a dream. It's a silent poem from a vanished world.