Sestertius of Alexander Severus 

Editor: Here we have a Sestertius of Alexander Severus from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a hefty coin. What strikes me is how much it has circulated. How does it fit into the history of Roman imagery? Curator: Roman coinage wasn't just currency; it was propaganda. Images of emperors, deities, and military victories reinforced imperial power. This coin, though worn, speaks to the emperor's desire to project strength and legitimacy through controlled imagery circulating among the populace. Who did it reach and what did it communicate? Editor: So, it’s as much a political statement as it is money. Did everyone have access to these images? Curator: Not equally. While coinage reached various levels of society, access and understanding would have varied. Consider how literacy rates, trade routes, and social hierarchies influenced the reception of these visual messages. The coin’s imagery, therefore, had a stratified impact. Editor: That makes me think differently about its role in society. Thank you! Curator: And it shows how the political impacts our understanding of something as seemingly simple as a coin.