coin of Julia Mamaea 

Curator: This is a coin of Julia Mamaea, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks so weathered and worn. I can almost feel the history etched into its surface; there’s a real weight to it. Curator: Indeed. Coins like this offer fascinating insights into the social and political narratives of their time. The very act of portraying Julia Mamaea on currency underscores her power and influence. Editor: It's fascinating how numismatic art reflects and reinforces patriarchal structures and imperial power. It makes me think about the ways in which gender and authority were being negotiated and performed in that society. Curator: Absolutely. Coins circulated widely, acting as miniature billboards of imperial ideology, projecting carefully constructed images of power, legitimacy, and perhaps a degree of propaganda. Editor: Considering our contemporary moment, it’s a potent reminder of how images shape our perceptions of power. Curator: Precisely. The coin allows us to analyze the politics of imagery, then and now. Editor: A tangible echo from the past, laden with meaning.