Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian c. 285 - 286

Curator: Here we have a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Diocletian, held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s so small, and yet it holds this almost melancholic weight... Like holding a tiny piece of a lost world. Curator: These coins functioned as currency, but also served as propaganda, bearing symbols of power and legitimacy. The emperor's portrait would have been instantly recognizable. Editor: And the imagery on the reverse? I see a figure enthroned, perhaps a goddess? What does she signify in this context? Curator: Yes, that's likely a representation of Alexandria itself, seated and holding symbols of abundance. The coin links Diocletian with the prosperity of this vital Egyptian city. Editor: Amazing that something so modest could carry so much symbolic and political power. It’s a little portal into another time. Curator: Indeed. It prompts us to consider the values and beliefs that shaped societies long ago.