Antoninianus of Otacilia Severa 

Editor: Here we have the Antoninianus of Otacilia Severa, a Roman coin currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s remarkable how much history is packed into such a small object. What can you tell me about the symbolism at play here? Curator: Look closely; consider how Otacilia Severa, the emperor's wife, chose to represent herself. The iconography, her portrait on one side and a goddess on the other, speaks volumes about the Roman ideals of power, piety, and feminine virtue. What feeling does the goddess evoke for you? Editor: Strength, maybe? But also a certain... detachment? Curator: Precisely. Consider how this image may have functioned within the cultural memory of Rome. It represents a calculated effort to link the empress with divine authority, a way to solidify her place, and her husband’s, in the Roman psyche. Editor: So, it's about more than just a pretty picture; it's about actively shaping how people saw her and the Empire. Thanks for illuminating the cultural significance embedded in the imagery. Curator: Indeed. This coin gives a sense of the cultural and psychological weight of images in Roman society.