As of Julia Domna 211 - 217

Editor: Here we have “As of Julia Domna,” a coin featuring Julia Domna, wife of Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. The material condition, particularly the hole at the top, makes me wonder about its use. What can you tell us about this piece? Curator: Considering its materiality, the worn bronze and that piercing indicates its life extending beyond currency. The coin served perhaps as adornment, a personal memento, or an amulet. This transforms its function and suggests the widespread consumption and appropriation of imperial imagery. Editor: So, it's about more than just the image of Julia Domna herself? Curator: Precisely. It speaks to the circulation of power and its absorption into daily life. The coin’s original purpose as a marker of state authority shifts as its materiality is altered, inviting reflection on the broader economic and social systems at play. Editor: That’s fascinating. I never considered how repurposing alters the narrative of an object like this.