Sestertius of Julia Mamaea 224

Curator: Here we have a sestertius featuring Julia Mamaea, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Well, it has a lovely, worn feeling to it. Like it's absorbed stories from pockets and purses over centuries. Curator: It’s a tangible link to the past, isn't it? Julia Mamaea was a powerful figure, mother of Emperor Severus Alexander. Coins like this weren't just currency, they were propaganda. Editor: Absolutely. The portrait isn't just a likeness; it's an idealized image, projecting power and legitimacy. Each coin was a mini-billboard. Curator: What strikes me is how a single object, seemingly so small, can carry so much historical weight. You can feel her presence still. Editor: I feel it too! Each scratch, each imperfection, whispers a narrative. It makes you wonder about the hands it has passed through. It connects us.