Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Gallienus c. 267 - 268

Curator: This is a tetradrachm of Alexandria, minted under the reign of Gallienus. Note the copper-toned surfaces, a weight of 10.5 grams, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The mottled texture gives this coin a certain earthiness; it’s as if the weight of history has physically settled on its surfaces. Curator: The visible degradation, though, provides a compelling lens. It allows us to focus intently on the lines, the remaining texture, and the compositional tension between design and decay. Editor: Indeed. Even in this state, the portrait on one side and the allegorical figure on the other speak of power, prosperity, the Roman Empire. The coin is a miniature stage for these narratives. Curator: Precisely, and its circular form, disrupted by imperfections, amplifies the dialogue between idealized form and material reality. Editor: I agree. The coin's enduring presence is a reminder of how symbols can survive, transformed yet still resonant, across millennia. Curator: Seeing it this way, it presents an intriguing interplay between symbolic communication and material evolution. Editor: Absolutely. It's a relic that continues to provoke questions and connections.