Coin of Isaura under Caracalla c. 188 - 217

Editor: So, this is a Coin of Isaura under Caracalla, from the Harvard Art Museums. The surfaces are worn, but I'm curious, what iconographic significance does it hold? Curator: Consider how this coin, though small, functioned as a powerful symbol. The image of Caracalla links imperial authority with civic identity. What visual cues suggest power and connection to the people? Editor: Well, I see a portrait, and then maybe a building on the reverse? Is that an acknowledgement of local culture? Curator: Precisely. The temple acknowledges local deities, integrating them into the Roman world. It reveals a strategy of cultural assimilation through shared iconography. Editor: So, a single image really carries multiple layers of political and religious meaning. It's fascinating. Curator: Indeed. And it reminds us that even the smallest objects can tell grand stories about cultural memory and power.