Denarius of Julia Domna c. 211 - 217

Editor: This is a Denarius of Julia Domna, a silver coin currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. I am struck by how such a small object can tell such a big story. What can we learn about it? Curator: Coins like this were powerful tools of propaganda. Julia Domna, wife of Emperor Septimius Severus, appears here not just as a portrait, but as an ideal of Roman womanhood, reinforcing the dynasty's power through her image. Editor: So, circulating these coins was a way to control the narrative? Curator: Precisely! It was a way to disseminate specific messages about the ruling family throughout the vast Roman empire. The imagery and inscriptions were carefully chosen to project an image of stability and legitimacy. Editor: It's amazing how such a seemingly simple object was so politically charged. I’ll definitely look at coins differently now.