Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 201 - 206

Curator: This is a Denarius of Septimius Severus, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Initially, I'm struck by its compact scale and the way such grand pronouncements of power are rendered so intimately. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the symbolism: the laureate head representing imperial authority, and Victory, the winged goddess, affirming his military triumphs. It's all about legitimizing his reign after a period of civil war. Editor: And that winged figure! Across cultures, wings signify divinity, transcendence, and swiftness, here underscoring Roman military might and inevitable dominance. What narratives of marginalization might be buried under that claim? Curator: A valid question. This coin served as propaganda, justifying imperial power through carefully chosen visual language, suppressing dissenting voices and alternative narratives. Its very existence helped to normalize his rule and the violence that often underpinned it. Editor: I see the long-lasting resonance in how states employ symbols of power. Curator: Precisely, and it reminds us of the importance of critically assessing the messages embedded within seemingly innocuous artifacts.