Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Claudius Gothicus c. 267 - 268

Curator: This is a tetradrachm from Alexandria, issued under Claudius Gothicus. It weighs about 11 grams. Editor: It looks so worn! The textures suggest a weight of history, doesn't it? The material is heavily patinated. Curator: Indeed. Coinage like this wasn't just currency. It visually reinforced imperial authority. The portrait of Claudius connected his image directly to daily commerce. Editor: And the eagle? Such a potent symbol. What did it mean to the people of Alexandria? Power? Protection? Perhaps both intertwined? Curator: It was definitely a representation of Roman power, but also of Jupiter, associating imperial rule with divine endorsement, which could legitimize authority in the minds of the people. Editor: It is remarkable how much symbolic weight such a small object could carry. Curator: Absolutely, these coins were miniature political billboards, circulating ideologies alongside their monetary value.