Denarius of Julia Domna 196 - 211

Editor: Here we have a Denarius of Julia Domna from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small coin, but the portrait is quite striking. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful statement about the construction of imperial female identity. Coins like this were tools of propaganda. Julia Domna, as empress, wasn't just a wife; she was a carefully curated symbol of power and stability. Editor: So, it’s less about her actual likeness and more about what she represents? Curator: Precisely. This coin asks us to consider how images, even small ones, can reinforce or challenge social and political norms. It makes you wonder, what narratives are embedded in the objects we use every day? Editor: That’s a fascinating perspective. I’ll definitely look at coins differently now! Curator: Indeed, history is often hidden in plain sight.