Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Maximian c. 288 - 289

Curator: Before us we have a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Maximian, held in the Harvard Art Museums, its worn surface weighs 7.45 grams. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by its palpable sense of age, the bronze almost seems to weep with the passage of time, its circular form heavily disrupted. Curator: Indeed, the degradation is notable, but look at how the remaining textures articulate the power it once represented. Observe the original circular form, the deliberate inscription around the Emperor’s profile. Editor: The imperial iconography is compelling. How the portrait, even in its eroded state, still conveys authority. This symbolizes the Roman Empire’s power and reach through the ages. Curator: Precisely, and note how the patina itself becomes a signifier, transforming the material presence of the coin into something spectral, something beyond its mere monetary value. Editor: It is quite evocative, thinking about the hands this piece has passed through, what histories it silently holds. Curator: It offers a rich ground for exploring the symbolic language of power and endurance that lies deep within the material world. Editor: Yes, I find that the symbol of power in this coin, still holds some weight, even in its aged and corroded condition.