Coin of Thessalonike under the Empress Julia Paula c. 3th century

Curator: This is a coin from Thessalonike under the Empress Julia Paula, now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The patinated bronze suggests a compelling narrative about power, doesn't it? I immediately read the imagery of the empress as a symbolic effort to bolster legitimacy through association. Curator: Indeed. But let's consider the material itself. Copper alloy was relatively accessible, reflecting the needs of everyday transactions and state-level governance. Its ubiquity underscores the reach of the empire. Editor: Yet, by depicting Julia Paula, this coin transcends mere currency. The choice of imagery speaks volumes about imperial ambition and feminine representation of power. What do you read from her features? Curator: The details are worn, yet the minting process itself involved skilled labor and precise die-cutting—artisans turning raw materials into tools of authority and ideology. Editor: Well put. It's fascinating how this small object embodies complex layers of economic, political, and symbolic meaning. Curator: Precisely, a testament to the enduring power of objects. Editor: A poignant reminder of how symbols persist through material culture.