Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Severus Alexander c. 225 - 226

Editor: This is a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Severus Alexander, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like a coin, quite worn with age, but with a distinct profile on one side and a figure on the other. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: Coins are powerful symbols. The portrait on one side isn't just a likeness; it's a declaration of power, a visual representation of the emperor’s authority and his connection to the divine. The figure on the reverse, holding scales, likely represents justice or abundance, virtues the emperor wished to be associated with. Consider how these symbols, replicated and circulated, shaped public perception and reinforced imperial ideology. Editor: So, it’s less about the individual and more about the message being broadcast? Curator: Precisely! Even the coin's degradation becomes part of its story, hinting at the passage of time and the endurance of these symbols through history. What resonates with you most about this object? Editor: I now understand how a simple coin can carry so much cultural weight.