Denarius of Julia Domna 196 - 211

Editor: This is a Denarius of Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus, from the Harvard Art Museums. I’m struck by how small and worn it is – like holding a whisper of history. What stories do you imagine it could tell? Curator: Oh, the stories! It's amazing to think this little coin, this intimate portrait, financed daily life, maybe even touched the hands of emperors. Julia Domna was a powerful figure, and this coin immortalizes her. I wonder, what kind of power do you think a portrait like this held? Editor: Maybe it was about projecting an image of stability and Roman strength? Curator: Precisely! And it makes me think, what images do we project today? Coins are history made tangible. Editor: I never thought of it that way. Thanks!