Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 209

Editor: Here we have a denarius of Septimius Severus. What strikes me is how such a small object could project so much power. What can you tell me about its role and significance? Curator: Well, this coin served as a crucial instrument of imperial propaganda. Its imagery, carefully controlled by the state, visually communicated Severus's power and legitimacy to a vast audience. Editor: So it wasn't just money? Curator: Exactly. Consider its circulation. It wasn't confined to an elite audience. It touched nearly every stratum of society, reinforcing the emperor’s image and narratives. What do you think it tells us about the public role of art? Editor: It was less about aesthetics and more about communicating authority. Curator: Precisely! And that understanding transforms our perspective on how art functions within a society, then and now.