Coin of Alexandria under Volusian c. 253 - 254

Editor: This is a coin of Alexandria under Volusian. It looks like it's made of bronze and is quite small. The imagery is very worn, but I can still make out a figure. How would you interpret this work? Curator: This coin, though small, embodies the complex intersection of power and representation. What does it tell us about Roman Alexandria's relationship to the emperor, to its own identity, through its chosen iconography? The figure you see may be a localized deity, reflecting Alexandria’s negotiation of Roman authority. Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered the idea of local power dynamics influencing the imagery on the coin. Curator: Exactly. And what does the material itself – bronze, rather than silver or gold – suggest about the economic realities and social hierarchies of the time? Editor: I guess it reveals the social status of the user, and the need for a local economic system during the Roman occupation. I see so much more now! Curator: Indeed. This coin becomes a lens through which we can examine larger power structures.