Coin of Kassandreia under Septimius Severus c. 193 - 211

Curator: This is a coin of Kassandreia under Septimius Severus, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs just 5.73 grams. Editor: It has a somber presence, doesn't it? The worn texture speaks of time, and the faint outlines suggest stories half-forgotten. Curator: Absolutely. Coins like these weren't just currency; they were tools of propaganda, designed to disseminate power and project imperial authority to a wide audience. Editor: The materiality is intriguing. The coin’s degradation reveals its base elements, speaking to the economic and social realities of its production and use. Curator: Precisely. The wear and tear are not flaws, but rather evidence of labor, trade, and the everyday lives of people under Roman rule. Editor: It makes you wonder about the hands it passed through. Curator: Indeed. This coin offers a tangible connection to the past, reminding us that even the smallest objects can hold immense historical and social significance. Editor: A tiny object with a big story.