Denarius of Julia Domna c. 196 - 211

Editor: Here we have a silver denarius of Julia Domna. It's small, yet so much information is embedded within its metallic form. What can you tell me about its materiality and the context of its creation? Curator: The choice of silver, its weight, and the striking process itself speaks volumes about Roman imperial power. Consider the mines, the labor involved in extraction and refinement, and the distribution networks fueled by this form of currency. It’s not simply an image, but a material object deeply embedded in Roman social and economic structures. Editor: That makes me consider the hands it passed through! I never thought about it that way before. Curator: Exactly! It challenges the idea of 'high art' by highlighting the often-unseen labor that underpinned even the most seemingly insignificant aspects of Roman life.