Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Salonina c. 266 - 267

Editor: This is a tetradrachm coin of Alexandria under Salonina at the Harvard Art Museums. I see Salonina on one side and an eagle on the other. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Consider the power dynamics at play. Salonina, a woman in a position of authority, had her image stamped onto currency. What does it mean to have her likeness circulate through society in this way? Editor: It's a statement of power, right? Curator: Exactly! And the eagle? Consider its symbolism within the Roman context – imperial authority, military strength. How does this imagery reinforce or perhaps even challenge Salonina's position as a female leader? Editor: So it's a complex interplay of gender and power. I hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. It speaks volumes about how female authority was negotiated and visualized in that era.