Brass Coin of Cleopatra VII Thea 51 BCE-30 BCE

Curator: Here we have a brass coin of Cleopatra VII Thea, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has an immediate presence, a palpable sense of history. I notice the green patina, whispering stories of age and elemental interaction. Curator: It's compelling to consider how this coin functions as a form of self-representation. Cleopatra, as a female ruler in a patriarchal world, used coinage to project power and legitimacy. Editor: Absolutely. Coins serve as potent symbols, embodying a leader's authority and their envisioned legacy. The image itself becomes a cultural touchstone, instantly recognizable. Curator: Indeed. By controlling her image, she actively challenged the patriarchal norms of her time, asserting her position not just as a ruler, but as a powerful woman. Editor: And through the iconography, we witness the endurance of certain images, their lasting impact on shaping perception. Curator: Considering the coin's weight and material, its impact on trade, her role in the globalized world, and the symbols she chose to project... Editor: It does make you reflect on the power of symbols, and the lives they can have, even after the empires that birthed them crumble.