Drachm (Coin) Portraying King Gotarzes II 40 - 51

Curator: Here we have a silver Drachm, a coin portraying King Gotarzes II. It dates back to around 40 to 51 CE. Editor: It’s incredible how something so small can hold so much weight. The profile looks almost austere, regal in its rigid depiction, and somber. Curator: Indeed. It provides insight into the ways ancient rulers sought to project power through controlled imagery and available technology. Gotarzes' portrait is a deliberate construction—the strong brow, the carefully styled beard—all conveying authority. Consider also that silver coinage like this played a crucial role in funding military campaigns, legitimizing royal power through trade and taxation, and maintaining social control in ancient Parthia. Editor: The uniformity of these coins strikes me. How this image of Gotarzes II saturated society, reinforcing his dominion. The symbolism becomes less about the individual, and more about what he represents to his empire and the gendered expectation of masculine power. This resonates across millennia and cultures – what hasn't changed about these modes of projecting power? Curator: That’s a great point. We must also examine this specific ruler to see how the symbolism and messaging around his role intersect. The imagery would have meant something different to diverse groups within and beyond his territories, including those actively opposing his reign. Editor: Thinking about power dynamics and coin circulation, the accessibility is fascinating. What did ordinary people, marginalized groups in society, make of seeing their ruler represented this way daily? Curator: Absolutely. Their perception would depend on their socio-economic position. What the drachm represents to someone within Gotarzes II court will differ wildly from someone he has conquered. Editor: It’s striking to think how something as mundane as a coin is also an object embedded with political, social, and cultural messages still potent after nearly two thousand years. Curator: Examining a coin allows us to examine history beyond what’s immediately obvious in larger artworks. These everyday objects help us understand a broader spectrum of experience and social realities.