Denarius of Caracalla struck for Julia Domna, Rome c. 211 - 217

Curator: This is a silver denarius coin, a portrait of Julia Domna, wife of Emperor Septimius Severus. It was struck in Rome. Editor: Immediately, I sense immense power concentrated in this small object; it's fascinating how much authority is conveyed despite the scale. Curator: Absolutely. The imagery served as an official declaration, associating Julia Domna with idealized virtue and imperial authority. She's depicted, in the coin’s iconography, as almost divine. Editor: And this was no accident. Consider the patriarchal society; Julia Domna had to strategically negotiate her power, leveraging symbolic capital through controlled images. Her face on currency normalized her rule. Curator: These coins were not just money; they were miniature billboards, constantly circulating. A potent reminder of the imperial family's presence. Editor: Exactly. This coin speaks volumes about the performance of gender, power, and the art of image-making in ancient Rome. Curator: Seeing this coin today, we grasp how carefully constructed imperial images were, and the stories they intended to tell. Editor: It's a small piece pregnant with meaning, inviting us to question whose stories get told, and who controls the narrative.