Sestertius of Julia Mamaea 228

Editor: This is a sestertius featuring Julia Mamaea, from the Harvard Art Museums. It's small, but seeing these profiles worn smooth by time makes me wonder about its value as propaganda. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful statement, yes, but it’s also a commonplace one. Coinage was one of the few ways the Roman Empire communicated visual information. How do you think this object participates in the construction of imperial power? Editor: It’s interesting to think of something so small having such a public role. The image is quite striking, even now. Curator: Precisely. The portraiture, the inscriptions... all were meticulously controlled to project authority. It is a reminder that art is never truly separate from politics. Editor: I hadn’t considered coins in that light before! Thanks for that insight.