Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 200 - 202

Curator: Here, we have a denarius of Septimius Severus, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It's small, only 3.43 grams, but densely packed with history. Editor: It feels ancient and worn, somehow. That small, chipped circle held power, didn't it? Like a tiny, weighty secret. Curator: Indeed. The image of Septimius on one side, his profile stern and godlike, would have been instantly recognizable, a symbol of Roman authority. Editor: And the figure on horseback on the other side, so small yet so assertive, speaks to something timeless about leadership and conquest, doesn't it? It's amazing how potent these symbols remain. Curator: Absolutely. Consider how an object so unassuming carried so much cultural and political meaning, influencing behavior and solidifying power. Editor: Seeing this denarius gives me goosebumps. It’s a reminder that history isn’t just dates and battles; it’s also the whispers embedded in everyday objects like this.