Tetradrachm of Cleopatra VII 36-35 BCE

Curator: Here we have a tetradrachm of Cleopatra VII, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s small, worn, and yet… weighty. I mean that both literally, at 13.39 grams, and figuratively. It carries centuries of history. Curator: Indeed. Coins like these were powerful propaganda tools. The image of Cleopatra on currency aimed to legitimize her rule and project an image of divine authority. Editor: Look at the raw materiality of this coin. Silver wasn't just money; it was a direct representation of power. To hold it is to feel connected to the economic engine that fueled her reign and to see her efforts to solidify her own personal brand. Curator: Absolutely. And the eagle on the reverse, a symbol of the Ptolemaic dynasty, connects her rule to a long line of Greek rulers in Egypt. It wasn't just about her; it was about dynasty. Editor: Right. So we have the silver as a source of raw material and the iconography to cement power with Cleopatra using every tool at her disposal. Curator: Precisely. Every detail on this tiny object reflects the intense pressures and power plays of the late Hellenistic world. Editor: This coin is a powerful reminder of the intersection of material culture and political strategy. Curator: Yes, a perfect encapsulation of the ruler and her reign.