Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Gordian III c. 244 - 245

Curator: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Alexandria, attributed to Gordian III. The coin, weighing in at just over 11 grams, resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's remarkable how time and utility have weathered this coin. The low relief figures appear almost ghostlike. Curator: Indeed. Coins like this served not just as currency, but also as vehicles for imperial propaganda. The images, symbols, and inscriptions all reinforce the emperor's power. Editor: And who had access to this power? Who benefited? The coin's materiality raises questions of access, trade routes, and the socio-political structures it supported. Curator: Precisely. The very wear and tear speak volumes about its journey through history and the hands it has passed through. Editor: Understanding how such objects shaped perceptions of authority and identity in their time—and how they continue to shape ours—is crucial. Curator: It invites us to consider the cultural memory embedded within such an artifact. Editor: Absolutely. A small object, but a large discourse.