Coin of Septimus Severus c. 202 - 210

Curator: Here we have a coin of Septimus Severus, whose reign as Roman Emperor marked a significant turning point in the late second and early third centuries. Editor: My first thought: heavy. Not just physically, but the weight of history etched onto that worn surface. Curator: Indeed. Severus's rise to power came after a period of civil war, and his policies fundamentally restructured the Roman state. This coin, though small, embodies that shift in power dynamics. Editor: You know, holding something like this, imagining it jingling in someone's pocket two thousand years ago... it’s a tangible link to a world both familiar and utterly alien. Curator: Absolutely. It allows us to consider how identity and authority were constructed and circulated in the ancient world, and what role objects played in reinforcing those systems. Editor: It makes you think about what objects today will tell future generations about us... our coins probably won't be as cool. Curator: Perhaps not, but every object tells a story, if we’re willing to listen. Editor: Right, and maybe even make up some of our own.