Coin of Antiochos VIII Grypos of Syria c. 121 - 196

Curator: Oh, wow, that has seen some things. It looks like it's been pulled up from the bottom of the sea! Editor: Indeed! This is a coin of Antiochos VIII Grypos of Syria, a small bronze piece now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Grypos, meaning "hook-nosed," ruled during a tumultuous period, his reign marked by dynastic struggles and political intrigue. Curator: "Hook-nosed," eh? He sounds like a character. I wonder what it was like to hold that coin, the weight of power... or just the weight of groceries. Editor: More likely military expenditures. These coins were essential for maintaining armies and consolidating power. Their distribution reinforced royal authority and visually communicated political messages through iconography. Curator: It makes you think about value, doesn't it? What we assign value to, what lasts, what fades. Editor: And who gets to decide. These coins, like so much of history, are products of power, of imperial narratives. They are both artifacts and ideological statements. Curator: So even something small and seemingly insignificant can tell a huge story. Editor: Precisely. This small coin opens up vast historical, political, and social landscapes.