Coin of Cremna under Septimius Severus 193 - 211

Curator: Here we have a coin minted in Cremna during the reign of Septimius Severus, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, that's haunting! It feels like it's been pulled straight from the earth, carrying the weight of centuries in its patina. Curator: Indeed, the coin's wear speaks volumes. It's more than just currency; it's a propaganda piece, a symbol of imperial power circulated throughout the Roman Empire. Editor: The portrait of Severus seems defiant even in its eroded state. And the figure on the reverse, perhaps a deity, feels like a whisper of forgotten beliefs. Curator: Precisely. The formal rendering of the emperor and the divine figure, along with the coin's material endurance, underscore the Empire's desire for immortality and dominance. Editor: It makes you think about all the hands it passed through, all the transactions, the lives it touched—a tiny object with a colossal story. Curator: It's a testament to the power of objects to connect us to the past, to remind us of the empires that rose and fell, and the enduring human desire for meaning. Editor: I agree, and it's a reminder to slow down and see the world in objects, not just what they're meant to represent.