Coin of Herakleia Pontika under Julia Domna c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: At the Harvard Art Museums, we're looking at a coin of Herakleia Pontika under Julia Domna. The coin, weighing a mere 4.47 grams, features the Roman empress, wife of Septimius Severus. Editor: It's incredible the detail they managed on something so small. The patinated bronze creates a somber mood, really emphasizing its age and history. Curator: Absolutely. This was more than just currency; it was imperial propaganda. The portrait of Domna helped project power and legitimacy across the vast Roman empire. It's all about the politics of imagery. Editor: The way the light catches her profile, the subtle relief, it's a masterclass in miniature sculpture. And the composition, even at this scale, commands respect. Curator: Precisely, and consider how the image of a powerful woman on coinage might have been received and consumed in different corners of the Roman world. Editor: Seeing it now, the texture, the weight in the hand it once was—it’s a tangible link to a fascinating period. Curator: Indeed, a little object packed with imperial ambition.