Tetradrachm of King Patraos of Paeonia, Patrai, Barbarous Imitation c. 335

Editor: Here we have a silver tetradrachm of King Patraos of Paeonia. It feels worn but depicts a dynamic scene. What's your interpretation? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this "barbarous imitation" not as a failure, but as an act of cultural negotiation. How does the act of copying, perhaps imperfectly, reflect power dynamics and resistance? Editor: So, you're saying the imitation itself holds meaning? Curator: Precisely. It speaks to the agency of the imitator, their interaction with dominant cultures, and their assertion of identity within those interactions. It asks us, who defines value and authenticity? Editor: I never thought about it that way. It changes how I see value within the so-called copy.