Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 199

Curator: Here we have a silver denarius, issued during the reign of Septimius Severus. It's a tiny thing, but it speaks volumes about power and legacy, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Absolutely, there is something melancholy about the figure; though confident in stance, it hints at something forlorn. It's also incredible to think of all the hands this has passed through. Curator: The Emperor's portrait, rendered in profile, has a sort of austere beauty. These coins functioned as propaganda. Editor: Exactly, the imagery on coins became powerful tools. Each symbol was loaded with meaning—it was a way to imprint authority and communicate ideas about the empire. Curator: Funny, to think such a small object carried so much weight, both literally in silver and figuratively in its message. Editor: Precisely. It's like holding a whispered secret, a tiny echo of grand narratives and personal stories. A poignant reminder that empires crumble and fade, but symbols often remain.