Coin of Patrai under Caracalla 211 - 217

Editor: This is a coin of Patrai under Caracalla, held in the Harvard Art Museums. It feels weighty, not just literally at 8.59 grams, but also historically. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: Coins are fascinating. One side shows Caracalla, ruler and man, while the reverse likely depicts a local deity, perhaps Artemis. The ruler's portrait projects power and authority; the deity assures divine favor and cultural continuity. Editor: That’s interesting. So the coin served not just as currency, but as propaganda and a cultural touchstone? Curator: Precisely! It's a miniature stage for negotiating identity and power in the Roman Empire. What stories do you think it could tell? Editor: It makes me think about the stories we choose to tell, and how we use images to tell them. Thanks for this insight!