Dupondius of Alexander Severus c. 3th century

Curator: This is a Dupondius of Alexander Severus, currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs 11.54 grams. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by its weathered state. It has a real sense of history and feels older than it is, if that makes sense. Curator: Absolutely. Think about the labor involved in its creation – the mining and refining of the metal, the die-cutting, the striking of the coin itself. This wasn't just money; it was a product of significant industry. Editor: And the image itself! Severus, immortalized, but also subtly transformed. The symbols chosen clearly reflect his desired image and speak to the values he wanted to project across the Empire. We can see how coin imagery projects power. Curator: Indeed. The wear and tear almost democratizes the image. A piece of currency handled by countless people, representing their daily labor and exchange. It's both imperial propaganda and a deeply social object. Editor: It's fascinating how such a small, almost insignificant object can hold so much weight, both literally and figuratively. It connects us to a whole empire and a distant past. Curator: I agree, tracing its production and use reveals unexpected social and economic networks.