Denarius of Plautilla c. 202 - 205

Curator: This is a silver denarius depicting Plautilla, wife of Caracalla, minted under the reign of Septimius Severus. It's currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks worn, almost like a whisper of history. The small size emphasizes its intimacy. Curator: Roman coins were crucial for propaganda and projecting imperial power. The image of Plautilla reinforced dynastic succession. Editor: I wonder what it meant to Plautilla to have her image circulated like this. Her story is tragic; she was later exiled and murdered. The coin becomes a complex artifact, reflecting power and vulnerability. Curator: Absolutely. The weight and precious metal also signal the economic might of the empire. Editor: It makes you think about whose hands it passed through and what economic and social lives this coin was part of. A reminder that power always has a human cost. Curator: Indeed, it allows us to see the interplay between public image and private lives in the Roman Empire. Editor: I’ll be contemplating Plautilla's legacy for some time.