Coin of Thessalonike under the Empress Julia Domna c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: Before us is a bronze coin of Thessalonike from the reign of Empress Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It looks like something found at the bottom of the sea, all shimmering in turquoise. I wonder who held it last. Curator: Coins like these were powerful tools of imperial representation, circulating images of the ruling family. Editor: It's easy to forget the propaganda of these things. I see the portrait of a powerful woman, but I also see the everyday object that she controlled. Curator: Domna held immense political influence; coins were one way she could disseminate her power throughout the Roman Empire. Editor: It’s a poignant thought that such a small object could carry such weight.