Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Claudius II Gothicus c. 269 - 270

Curator: This is a Tetradrachm of Alexandria minted under Claudius II Gothicus. Editor: It's aged beautifully; the worn texture speaks volumes. Is that an eagle I see on one side? Curator: Indeed! These coins, about 10 grams each, show how power and iconography were literally circulated among the populace. The material itself, likely bronze or copper alloy, reflects the economics of the time. Editor: That eagle would certainly have resonated as a symbol of Roman power and divine authority. Claudius probably wanted everyone to see it. Curator: Precisely. Its creation involved mining, smelting, die-making, and striking—labor processes connecting raw materials to political messaging. Editor: The visual language clearly links him to previous emperors, securing his place in that lineage. It makes me wonder, what were the people thinking when they spent it? Curator: Thinking about daily transactions, or larger symbolic meanings encoded into it? A complex interplay. Editor: Absolutely. A small object holding so much cultural and historical significance.