Coin of Damascus under Otacilia Severa c. 244 - 249

Curator: Before us is a coin of Damascus under Otacilia Severa, now residing in the Harvard Art Museums. The coin is attributed to Otacilia Severa herself. Editor: The color is quite striking. The reddish-brown patina speaks of age, of course, but there's a kind of austere beauty in that restricted palette. Curator: Indeed. Coins functioned as powerful symbols of authority and legitimacy. The portrait of Otacilia Severa would have been instantly recognizable, asserting her power. Editor: What strikes me, though, is the crudeness of the die-cutting. The portrait is simple. The forms are legible, but so far from refined. Curator: The image simplifies a story, reducing it to an emblem. It's less about artistry and more about the cultural continuity and power it embodies. Editor: Perhaps, but the formal elements do affect how that message is received. The simplicity here conveys a certain strength. Curator: Well, seeing this coin transports me back to ancient Damascus, imagining the hands it passed through, the stories it could tell… Editor: And for me, it's a chance to consider how form shapes meaning across centuries. A humble coin, yet so rich in significance.