Coin of Sinope c. 2th century

Curator: This unassuming piece is a Coin of Sinope, associated with Mithradates VI Eupator, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums and weighing 7.74 grams. Editor: It's quite striking, actually. The texture alone suggests a well-worn history, a tangible link to ancient commerce. What material is it? Curator: We believe it is bronze. Its creation would have involved complex social and economic networks beyond merely its value as currency. Who were the laborers, the miners, the engravers involved in its crafting? Editor: And the implications of its imagery are fascinating. Consider the civic messaging: a symbol of Sinope, a powerful Black Sea port city, stamped onto currency legitimizing trade and solidifying its political authority. Curator: Precisely! The act of producing this coin, the allocation of resources, the control over minting—it speaks volumes about the power dynamics at play. Editor: Thinking about its distribution and lifespan, each exchange was a small enactment of Sinope's influence, its culture circulating through the hands of countless individuals. Curator: Indeed, the coin is more than just money. It is a symbol of political agency, and a testament to human labor and material culture. Editor: It truly makes you consider the coin's journey through history and what exactly it was worth to different people along the way.