Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian c. 287 - 288

Curator: Here we have a tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What strikes me first is the colour—that almost iridescent green oxidation against the dark metal—it's unexpectedly beautiful. Curator: Indeed, the green is significant. This coin speaks of Diocletian's reign, a period of reorganization and attempting to revive Roman glory, but it's Alexandrian, so deeply connected with Hellenistic traditions as well. The imagery and the metal carry an intertwined legacy of Roman power and Egyptian cultural memory. Editor: Yes, the surface degradation also contributes to my reading. The rough edges and corroded surfaces disrupt any sense of perfection, adding layers of time and history that are physically present. Curator: Precisely! The coin acts as a tangible link to a distant past, a medium through which we can glimpse the complex interplay of power, belief, and cultural identity. Editor: Absolutely, it's fascinating how something so small and seemingly simple can be so incredibly layered.