Denarius of Alexander Severus 

Editor: This is a Denarius of Alexander Severus. It looks small, unassuming. I see the profile of a man on one side, and a standing figure on the other. What can we learn from this tiny coin? Curator: Think about what this coin *did*. It passed from hand to hand, funding daily life but also visually proclaiming the power of the emperor. Consider how images on currency normalize hierarchies. Who is represented, and who is not? Whose power is being amplified? Editor: So, even something as everyday as a coin, becomes a tool for control? Curator: Precisely. By controlling the visual narrative, the emperor controlled, in part, the public perception of his rule. These images reinforced the status quo and suppressed dissenting voices. It's a potent reminder that even the smallest objects can carry significant political weight. Editor: I never thought about it that way before. It makes me wonder about the messages embedded in our own currency today.