Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Maximian c. 292 - 293

Curator: This is a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Maximian, a coin dating back to the rule of Maximianus I Herculius. The object is currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels incredibly weighted, doesn't it? Beyond the 8 grams, I mean. The patinated bronze surface whispers of power and distant rule. Curator: Absolutely. Coins like this were powerful tools of propaganda and identity construction. This one would have circulated in Roman Egypt, a complex space of intersecting cultures and imperial control. Editor: I notice the figure on the reverse. Is that supposed to be a deity, an idealized version of Maximian himself, or perhaps a symbolic representation of Alexandria? Curator: Likely a god syncretized with imperial imagery to reinforce authority. These symbols are carefully chosen to legitimize power structures and project a specific image of the emperor. Editor: It's remarkable how such a small object could carry so much ideological baggage. Curator: Exactly. It’s a tangible link to understanding how power was negotiated and expressed in the ancient world. Editor: I leave seeing this small coin as a potent reminder that objects, no matter how humble, can carry the weight of history.