Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Carinus c. 282 - 283

Curator: At first glance, this appears to be a heavily patinated artifact. The texture is almost obscuring the imagery. Editor: Indeed. Here we have a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Carinus, residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Consider the social context—a coin from Roman Egypt, a tangible artifact of imperial power. Curator: What strikes me, beyond its historical value, is the labour involved in its creation. Each strike of the die, repeated countless times, represents human effort. This wasn't just about trade; it was about the physical manifestation of control and the constant work of minting. Editor: The image itself is a carefully constructed piece of political imagery. The depiction of Carinus served a propagandistic function, reinforcing his authority throughout the vast empire. Curator: But it's also about the very material. The composition of the metal, the skills needed for die-making, these are not merely secondary considerations. These are the fundamentals that enabled its role in society. Editor: And those small changes in material and quality also reflected the shifting political tides. Curator: Absolutely. When you look at it that way, this small object encapsulates the economic and social realities of an empire. Editor: It certainly provides a more intimate connection to the past.