Denarius of Julia Domna 196 - 211

Curator: The Denarius of Julia Domna in the Harvard Art Museums offers a glimpse into the power and image-making surrounding the Roman imperial family. Editor: The low relief gives it a worn, almost ghostly quality, especially considering the silver alloy. What can you tell me about its composition? Curator: Julia Domna, wife of Emperor Septimius Severus, was a powerful figure, and her portrait on this coin was a key tool in visualizing imperial authority throughout the vast Roman Empire. Editor: Note how the inscription encircles her image, almost defining her as an object of state. It’s quite different from the fluid lines of Hellenistic portraiture. Curator: Absolutely. It's a carefully constructed image, meant to project stability and legitimacy for a dynasty that had recently seized power. Coins like these acted as miniature billboards, shaping public perception. Editor: The details of the engraving are impressive, but it's the way the light catches the metal's surface that really brings out the dimensionality. Curator: Studying this coin reveals not only artistic choices but also the calculated use of imagery in ancient political strategy. Editor: Indeed. It’s a tangible object of power, rendered in miniature.