Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 2th - 3th century

Editor: Here we have a Denarius of Septimius Severus, a small silver coin weighing less than 3 grams. The images are worn, but there's a portrait on one side and a standing figure on the other. What can you tell me about its significance? Curator: Coins like this weren't just currency; they were propaganda. Consider the portrait of Septimius Severus: How does it present him? Think about the message it sends regarding power and authority, especially within the context of the social hierarchy of the Roman Empire. Editor: I guess it’s a way to disseminate a particular image of the emperor to a wide audience? Curator: Precisely. Currency reached all levels of society. The imagery used on this coin would have reinforced Septimius Severus's authority in a society grappling with issues of power and legitimacy. We must ask: Whose stories are valued and whose are erased through this type of representation? Editor: That's a really powerful way to think about something so small. Curator: Indeed. Even everyday objects can tell us volumes about the values of the society that created them.