Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Probus c. 280 - 281

Curator: My goodness, it's weighty for its size, isn't it? Almost feels ancient in your palm. Editor: Indeed. What we have here is a tetradrachm of Alexandria under Probus, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. You know, feeling its weight, it’s impossible not to consider the sheer industrial effort in mining and minting these objects. Curator: Probus, eh? He always struck me as a rather stern fellow, even in numismatic form. It’s that profile, I think, so resolute. Editor: And that sternness was crucial, I’d argue. These weren't just portraits; they were tools to project imperial power, mass-produced and distributed. Think of the social messaging embedded in each coin. Curator: So, less about art, more about propaganda, then? Editor: Not "less," but both! Art and utility intertwined. It’s the materiality that fascinates—the metal itself, the wear and tear, each scratch a little story. Curator: Still, when I look at it, I see more than just its material value; I see glimpses of a world, a life, that's long gone. Editor: And I think that is an inescapable intersection of material reality and the weight of time.