Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian c. 285 - 286

Editor: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It's incredible to see how time and materiality have shaped this object. What insights can you offer about it? Curator: This coin speaks volumes about labor and consumption. The material itself, likely bronze or copper alloy, reveals the resources extracted and processed. What can its design tell us about Diocletian's control over production and value? Editor: That's a great point! I hadn't considered the power dynamics embedded in its creation. Curator: Precisely. How does this mass-produced object, a symbol of Roman power, challenge our understanding of "high art" versus mere utility? Editor: Thinking about it as a product of its time, rather than just an artifact, really changes my perspective. Curator: Indeed, focusing on the material conditions of its creation provides a valuable lens.