Coin of Ptolemy VI c. 180

Editor: Here we have a coin of Ptolemy VI Philometor at the Harvard Art Museums. It's weighty at 22.05 grams, and seeing both sides laid out like this, I'm struck by how much imagery a small coin could carry. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This coin, like many others, wasn't just currency. It was propaganda. Consider Ptolemy VI's reign; the imagery, perhaps of a royal diadem or a powerful god, served to legitimize his rule, projecting an image of power and divine favor to his subjects and rivals. Who controlled the imagery, controlled the narrative. Editor: So the images were intentionally selected for public consumption? Curator: Precisely. The motifs would resonate with the intended audience, reinforcing established hierarchies and ideologies. It makes you wonder about the messages we're embedding in our currency today. Editor: That's a good point. It's fascinating to consider how such a small object could wield so much cultural influence. Curator: Indeed. Studying the visual rhetoric of coins offers unique insight into the social and political landscape of its time.