Denarius of Julia Domna 196 - 211

Editor: Here we have a denarius featuring Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus. It’s a small silver coin, and seeing her likeness struck onto currency makes me wonder about the power she held. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Coins like this were powerful tools of imperial propaganda. Julia Domna's image on currency served to legitimize her husband’s rule and project an image of stability and imperial family unity. What do you think the impact of circulating images of the Empress might have been? Editor: I guess it's a way to familiarize people with the ruling family, especially in a vast empire. It's interesting to think about art as political messaging. Curator: Exactly. These coins remind us that art has always played a crucial role in shaping public perception and reinforcing power structures. Something to consider when we think about art today.