Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian c. 283 - 284

Curator: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian, residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, it evokes a sense of history etched in metal, almost like holding a whisper from the past. Curator: This coin provides insights into Alexandria's economic and political landscape under Roman rule. The very act of minting these coins—controlling the material and the image—reflects power dynamics at play. Editor: There's a story in its wear, a reminder that it was touched, traded, and carried, perhaps bearing witness to both grand events and the mundane moments of everyday life. It almost feels talismanic. Curator: Precisely. The material composition itself, the alloy of metals, was determined by economic factors and trade routes. Analyzing the coin's degradation could tell us much about its environmental journey. Editor: Holding it, you're connected, even briefly, to that world. It makes you consider what future generations will see in our own currency—what narratives they'll construct from our pennies and pounds. Curator: Indeed, its mass production highlights standardized labor and economic administration within the Empire. Editor: It's more than just a coin, isn't it? It's a tiny window into a lost world. Curator: Agreed. It's a material artifact that embodies the complexities of its time.