Stater of Tarsus under Datames c. 378

Curator: Here we have a silver stater of Tarsus, issued under Datames, a satrap of Cappadocia in the 4th century BC, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs approximately 9.97 grams. Editor: It’s like holding a tiny universe in your palm! The wear and tear, the faint glimmer of the metal—it whispers of ancient hands and long-lost stories. Curator: Indeed, these coins were not just currency; they were powerful propaganda tools. The imagery, likely depicting a local deity on one side and Datames himself on the other, would have reinforced his authority and legitimacy. Editor: I see it—the helmet almost seems to blend into the portrait. Like a dream of power and control, etched onto metal. It's a testament to how even the smallest objects can carry immense symbolic weight. Curator: Precisely. And considering the political turbulence of the period, with various satraps vying for power, this stater becomes all the more significant as a marker of Datames' ambition and self-presentation. Editor: It makes you wonder about the hands it passed through, the bargains it sealed. Perhaps a small reminder that even the most mundane objects can offer us a glimpse into the grand drama of history. Curator: A poignant reminder that even the smallest things can have lasting resonance. Editor: Exactly. It's like a tiny echo of an entire era.