As of Julia Domna 211 - 217

Editor: Here we have "As of Julia Domna," a coin by Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus. I'm struck by how weighty it must have felt in the hand, and how its production process influenced its appearance. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Think about the labor involved in its creation, the social context of its circulation. It's not just an image of Julia Domna, but a tool of imperial power, a signifier of wealth, and a commodity produced for consumption. How does its materiality speak to its function? Editor: So, the metal itself is a message, beyond just the image? Curator: Exactly. The means of production are embedded in the coin itself, connecting it to the broader economic and political landscape of the Roman Empire. Editor: That's a completely different way of looking at it. I learned something new! Curator: Me too. The coin’s value resides not only in its symbolic representation, but in its tangible presence as a product of labor and imperial design.