Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian c. 289 - 290

Editor: This is a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian, a coin from the Harvard Art Museums. It's small, but I feel a great weight of history in it. What symbols stand out to you? Curator: The portrait of Diocletian on one side immediately evokes imperial power, but it’s also a carefully constructed image, designed to communicate specific virtues and authority. The other side typically depicts a deity or symbolic representation of Alexandria. Editor: So, it’s not just currency, but also propaganda? Curator: Precisely. Coins were a primary means of disseminating imperial ideology. The imagery connects Diocletian to both Roman traditions and local Alexandrian beliefs, creating a powerful visual language understood across diverse populations. It's fascinating how this object carries such complex cultural memory in such a small form. Editor: I see it now! It's amazing how much meaning can be packed into a single coin. Curator: Indeed, the coin serves as a potent reminder of the enduring power of symbols.