Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 208

Curator: Here we have a silver denarius of Septimius Severus, a Roman emperor who ruled from 193 to 211 AD. Editor: It feels like a tiny ghost of an empire, doesn’t it? So small, yet it carries the weight of history. Curator: Precisely. One side presents a profile portrait of Severus, while the other features a figure that is likely a Roman deity. Editor: I’m drawn to the tactile nature of it, the way the metal feels worn. It makes you wonder about all the hands this coin has passed through, all the stories it could tell. I’d love to hold it and feel the connection to the past. Curator: That’s an excellent point! The denarius circulated widely and represents a tangible link to Roman economic and political power. Editor: It is humbling to consider that for someone, somewhere, at some time, this was their wealth, their daily bread. It is a powerful object. Curator: Indeed. Considering its weight and history, it is truly a small, yet potent, fragment of eternity.