dupondius of Julia Mamaea 

Curator: This is a dupondius of Julia Mamaea, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums, weighing about 14.68 grams. Editor: It looks worn, doesn't it? Like it's lived a full life, handled by countless hands. A quiet, metallic kind of beauty. Curator: Indeed. These coins were not mere currency; they were vehicles for imperial propaganda. Julia Mamaea, as mother of Emperor Severus Alexander, wielded considerable influence. Editor: So, this isn't just money; it's a statement. I wonder what stories this little piece of bronze could tell. Curator: Think of the Roman Empire, its trade routes, its soldiers, its everyday citizens—all connected by these images and symbols. The memory is palpable. Editor: It gives you a strange kind of connection with the past, holding this little coin. Thanks for shedding some light on it. Curator: My pleasure. It's humbling to consider the lives touched by something so small.