Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Carinus c. 283 - 284

Curator: This is a Tetradrachm of Alexandria under Carinus. What catches your eye? Editor: Immediately, I see decay and resilience. The surface is worn, but the imagery—the Roman emperor Carinus and those two figures on the reverse—still speaks. Curator: Note the composition. The effigy of Carinus occupies nearly the entire field on one side. The relief, despite its age, articulates details of his imperial portrait. Editor: Those figures on the reverse, are they eagles? Eagles are, of course, a symbol deeply embedded in Roman iconography, linked with Jupiter, but also with military victory and imperial power. Curator: Indeed. Consider how the materiality of the coin—its worn surface and metallic composition—affect our reading. The coin is a fragment, a material echo of a bygone empire. Editor: The coin, through its symbols, connects us to the ambitions and cultural values of a long-lost world. Curator: A fascinating dialogue between form and symbolic meaning, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. It prompts reflection on power, endurance, and the stories objects carry.