Coin of Nisibis under Julia Mamaea 222 - 235

Curator: Holding this coin feels like touching history itself. It's a "Coin of Nisibis under Julia Mamaea," residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by its weathered state. It evokes a sense of time, power, and perhaps a bit of loss. Curator: Absolutely, the coin gives you a direct link to Julia Mamaea, a powerful Roman empress. These coins, you see, weren't just currency; they were propaganda, circulating her image and authority. Editor: A reminder that even the smallest artifacts can be tools of empire. Whose gaze does this coin serve, and whose power does it legitimize? It prompts us to think about the intersections of gender and power in the ancient world. Curator: And maybe, now, it reflects back at us, inviting our own interpretations and challenging our preconceptions. Editor: Precisely. This coin, worn as it is, has so much to tell us.