As of Julia Mamaea 224

Curator: Here we have a coin bearing the likeness of Julia Mamaea, from the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It's beautiful, even with the obvious wear. The verdigris gives it a sense of age, doesn't it? A tactile connection to the past. Curator: Absolutely. These coins were vital tools of imperial propaganda. Displaying Mamaea reinforced the legitimacy and power of her son, Emperor Severus Alexander. Editor: Consider the labor. From the mining of the metal, likely bronze, to the crafting of the die, and then the striking of each individual coin. It’s a form of mass production, but still dependent on skilled hands. Curator: Indeed, these coins circulated widely, entering the hands of soldiers, merchants, and everyday citizens, all carrying the imprint of imperial power and its matriarchal figurehead. Editor: It makes you wonder about the stories these coins could tell, the places they have been. Curator: Precisely, they were not just currency, but active participants in the social and political landscape. Editor: Seeing the patina on its surface, I can't help but think about the materials and how they connect us to that distant world.