Sestertius of Septimius Severus c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: Here we have a sestertius, a bronze coin attributed to Septimius Severus, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's remarkably worn, yet the visible textures and faded details evoke a powerful sense of antiquity. Curator: Indeed. Though time has softened its forms, we can still discern Severus' profile on one side. This image, circulated widely, was intended to project authority and imperial identity. Editor: The opposite side seems to depict a standing figure, possibly a representation of Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. Its positioning and integration into the coin's circular format is quite compelling. Curator: Precisely. Coins like these were not merely currency; they were potent tools for disseminating imperial ideology. The goddess Libertas speaks to Roman ideals of freedom, which the emperor sought to associate with his rule. Editor: Seeing it now, I am drawn to its physicality. This object, small yet imbued with symbolic weight, served as a tactile link between the emperor and his subjects. Curator: It's fascinating how this little object was both a symbol of power and an everyday item. Editor: I hadn't considered it that way. The interplay of power and quotidian life is embedded into its design.