Denarius of Julia Domna c. 211 - 217

Curator: Here we have a Denarius of Julia Domna. These coins offer valuable insights into the roles and representations of women in positions of power within the Roman Empire. Editor: It looks so delicate, yet that tiny metal disc was probably jangling in someone's pocket, funding their daily bread. Incredible. Curator: Indeed. Julia Domna was the wife of Emperor Septimius Severus, and her image on coinage served as a potent symbol of imperial authority. The female body, here, becomes a site of political messaging. Editor: I love the way the light catches the raised profile. You can almost feel the weight of history pressing down, quite literally, on such a small object. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the complexities of her position: a woman wielding influence in a patriarchal society, her image circulated widely to reinforce dynastic power. Editor: Thinking about its journey through time, from somebody's purse to a museum display…It’s kind of humbling. Curator: It prompts us to consider the ongoing dialogues between power, representation, and gender. Editor: Precisely! Now, I'm off to jingle my own coins and maybe buy some bread!