As of Julia Mamaea 226

Curator: This is an ancient coin depicting Julia Mamaea. Though the specific date is unknown, Julia Mamaea was a powerful figure in the Roman Empire, particularly during the early 3rd century. Editor: The coin is small, but somehow monumental. Its worn surface and verdigris evoke the sweep of centuries. Curator: Exactly. Coins were tools of propaganda, circulating the emperor's image and reinforcing imperial power. Julia Mamaea was the mother of Emperor Severus Alexander and acted as his advisor. Editor: So, the portrait on the coin becomes almost like a mask of authority. What symbols are embedded in her likeness? Curator: The profile, the style of the hair, would be designed to project stability and Roman virtue, which is telling considering how turbulent that period was politically. It also indicates how women exercised soft power at that time. Editor: It's incredible to consider all that meaning compressed into this little object, still legible after all this time. Curator: Indeed, the persistence of this coin speaks volumes about the endurance of imperial messaging.