Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Probus c. 278 - 279

Curator: Before us, we have a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Probus, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Its worn condition whispers tales of its long journey through time. Editor: The verdigris patina gives it such a powerful sense of age and history. It speaks to the passage of power and the inevitable decay of empires. Curator: Indeed. This coin provides insight into the socio-political landscape of Roman Egypt during Probus’s reign. Coinage was a powerful tool of imperial propaganda. Editor: Absolutely, and the imagery—the figure of Probus on one side, and what seems to be an allegorical depiction on the other—tells a complex story about power and identity. It's worth thinking about who this coin empowered, and whose stories it erased. Curator: It's fascinating to consider how such a small object served to broadcast imperial authority and project images of strength to a diverse populace. Editor: Seeing the artifact gives me the urge to investigate the economic realities and the lived experiences of those who used it in their daily lives. Curator: Exactly, it’s a reminder that objects like this help us connect to the vastness of history through small tangible artifacts. Editor: Absolutely, I'm left pondering how power and representation intersect and endure through material culture.