Sestertius of Julia Soaemias 218 - 222

Editor: Here we have a Sestertius of Julia Soaemias, a Roman coin housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The portrait on one side is quite worn, but the image on the other seems to show a seated figure. What can you tell me about the socio-political role of portraiture in Roman currency? Curator: Coins, particularly those depicting rulers or members of the imperial family, were powerful tools of propaganda and dissemination of authority. Julia Soaemias was the mother of Emperor Elagabalus, and depicting her on currency reinforced her position and legitimized his reign, even during a period of political instability. Editor: So, the coin wasn’t just money, but a message? Curator: Precisely. It was a visual declaration of power, circulated widely. Think about the implications of seeing her image every time someone conducted a transaction. Editor: That's fascinating. It really puts a new perspective on the everyday objects of the past. Curator: Indeed. It reveals the interwoven nature of art, politics, and daily life in the Roman world.