Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Commodus c. 180 - 181

Editor: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Alexandria, made during the reign of Commodus. It’s amazing to consider that someone held this coin thousands of years ago. What can you tell me about the political power of imagery on such a small scale? Curator: Well, coins like this served as miniature billboards. Consider the image of Commodus. How does that image project power and influence amidst the political turmoil of the late Roman Empire? Editor: I see the image of Commodus, and what looks like another figure with attendants. It's fascinating to think of this everyday object as a political statement. Curator: Exactly. These images also reinforced the socio-political hierarchy. The coin itself, its very existence, speaks to Roman authority in Alexandria. Did that change your perception? Editor: Absolutely. I now see the coin less as a simple artifact and more as a statement of power, influencing the culture around it.