Tetradrachm of Antiochos VII Eurgetes of Syria c. 138

Curator: Let’s look at this fascinating Tetradrachm of Antiochos VII Eurgetes of Syria, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's so worn, almost smooth. I wonder how many hands it passed through, what markets it fueled. Curator: Indeed. The imagery tells a story of power. The portrait, classical in style, conveys a clear message of Hellenistic legitimacy. And on the reverse, likely a deity or personification of victory. Editor: Made of silver, certainly, but how was it mined, smelted, traded? I am interested in the labor and distribution networks it implies. Curator: A token of exchange, certainly, but also a symbol of authority and cultural identity, reflecting the ideals of its time. Editor: It's incredible to hold something that once greased the wheels of an ancient economy. Curator: A small artifact, but a weighty link to the past.