Coin of Perge under Philip II 247 - 249

Curator: This is a coin from Perge under Philip II, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's fascinating how the patina of age softens the sharp lines of the portrait. There's a distinct feeling of history, of empires rising and falling. Curator: Absolutely. Coins such as this were crucial tools in projecting royal power and creating a shared visual language across vast territories. The act of minting was a political statement. Editor: The ruler's effigy becomes a symbol, loaded with the weight of authority, circulated among the populace as a constant reminder of the established order. Curator: And as the currency circulated, the power of Philip II became tangible, something held in the hand, a marker of economic and political integration within the empire. Editor: It's almost like holding a piece of shared cultural memory. Makes you wonder what stories this particular coin could tell. Curator: Indeed. A testament to the enduring power of images in shaping perceptions of authority and belonging.