Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Probus c. 279 - 280

Curator: This is a tetradrachm of Alexandria under Probus, currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes you about it? Editor: It feels heavy, not just literally at 8.17 grams, but with the weight of history. A little battered, but whispering stories. Curator: Absolutely. We can consider Probus’s reign in the late 3rd century CE as a time of significant political and military challenges for the Roman Empire. These coins served not just as currency, but as propaganda. Editor: Propaganda, huh? I see the portrait, a stern, almost unforgiving profile. Is that intentional, projecting strength in turbulent times? Curator: Precisely. And remember Alexandria's position as an important economic and cultural center. Minting coins here signals imperial control. Editor: It's incredible to think about the hands this coin has passed through. A small object with enormous implications. Curator: It’s a potent reminder of the intersections of power, identity, and artistic production. Editor: I keep thinking about how such a small thing could hold so much symbolic weight. A mini-monument! Curator: Indeed, and hopefully a catalyst for reflecting on our own values and systems of power today. Editor: Yeah, seeing something so old makes you think, doesn't it? Thanks for that.