Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 200 - 201

Curator: This is a Denarius of Septimius Severus, a coin residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. The piece weighs around 3.66 grams. Editor: It’s so tiny! I'm struck by the weight it must have carried, not just in its material value, but as a symbol of power. Curator: Absolutely. These coins weren’t just currency; they were carefully constructed pieces of propaganda, meant to project an image of imperial strength and legitimacy. The portrait of Septimius Severus is deliberately idealized. Editor: I see that, a really stern, almost godlike figure. I wonder what the average person thought when they held this little piece of the emperor in their hands? Curator: It’s a complex relationship. The coin represents the emperor's power, but it also facilitates everyday transactions, embedding that power into the fabric of daily life. Editor: It’s funny how something so small could be so…heavy, historically speaking. Curator: Precisely. It's a physical manifestation of the socio-political dynamics of the Roman Empire.