Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian c. 283 - 284

Curator: Here we have a tetradrachm of Alexandria, minted during the reign of Diocletian. The piece resides here at the Harvard Art Museums, weighing in at just over six grams. Editor: I find its age bewitching. The metal, worn and faded, whispers of empires past and the touch of countless hands. Curator: Note the relief on both faces. One side presents Diocletian himself, his profile rigid and idealized. The other exhibits a figure enthroned. Editor: The stark profile suggests a ruler detached, almost godlike. While the figure on the reverse, perhaps a deity, conveys a sense of serene power. Curator: The coin, beyond its economic function, serves as a potent symbol of imperial authority and divine sanction, rendered through careful composition. Editor: It's a powerful reminder that art, even in miniature, can project colossal ideologies. Curator: Precisely, a convergence of artistic skill and political messaging on a diminutive scale. Editor: Leaving us to contemplate the enduring impact of emperors, artists, and the stories their objects tell.