Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Salonina c. 266 - 267

Editor: This is a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Salonina, a coin at the Harvard Art Museums. It's fascinating how something so small can tell such a big story. What can you tell me about the cultural context of this coin? Curator: Coins such as these were not just currency, they were powerful tools of imperial propaganda. Whose image is displayed, and what messages are conveyed through the imagery? Editor: It looks like there is a portrait on one side, and maybe a goddess on the other? Did the imagery reflect her power? Curator: Precisely! By placing Salonina's image on coinage, the Roman Empire visually reinforced her authority and legitimacy throughout its territories. The goddess on the reverse would have further legitimized her reign through association with divine power and Roman civic values. Editor: So, these coins weren't just money; they were miniature billboards! Curator: Exactly. They circulated widely, embedding these carefully crafted messages into the daily lives of people across the empire. Editor: That's a really cool perspective. I never thought of coins as tools of propaganda before. Thanks! Curator: It reveals much about the role of art in shaping socio-political power.