Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Probus c. 279 - 280

Editor: This is a Tetradrachm of Alexandria, a coin featuring Probus, from the Harvard Art Museums. It's small, but I see a portrait and what looks like maybe eagles on the other side. How do you interpret this work in its historical context? Curator: Coins like this were powerful tools of political communication. The portrait of Probus was a carefully crafted image designed to project authority and legitimacy. The eagle imagery? Editor: It might symbolize Roman power? Curator: Precisely. This coin wasn't just currency; it was propaganda, circulating ideas about Roman rule and imperial strength throughout Alexandria. It speaks volumes about how empires used imagery to maintain control. Editor: So, it’s not just art, but a political statement in miniature. Fascinating. Curator: Exactly! And seeing it in a museum today raises questions about its journey and our present-day relationship to imperial imagery.