Sestertius of Otacilia Severa 244 - 249

Curator: Here we have a sestertius, a bronze coin, of Otacilia Severa. Editor: It’s amazing to think of this worn object, weighing just 18.56 grams, passing through countless hands. Curator: Precisely. Notice the profile of Otacilia Severa, the Roman Empress, her coiffure meticulously rendered, encircled by the inscription of her name and title. Editor: I'm most interested in the coin itself as a mass-produced item, a tool of the empire, bearing not just an image but also the implicit weight of imperial power and the labor required for its production. Curator: The image itself presents a study in symbolic representation. Editor: But beyond its iconography, it’s a testament to the material realities of empire. Curator: A final thought: the visual language conveys messages of power and status. Editor: The coin is a artifact of labor and a symbol of power.