Sestertius of Alexander Severus 

Editor: Here we have a sestertius of Alexander Severus. It's quite small, worn, and yet it's amazing to see how much information is packed into it. What can you tell me about the role coins played at the time? Curator: Coins like this were more than just currency; they were tools of political messaging. The emperor's image, the inscriptions—they all served to project power and legitimacy throughout the Roman Empire. Think of it as a very early form of mass media, constantly circulating and reinforcing imperial authority. Editor: So, every citizen carrying this coin was, in a sense, carrying a piece of propaganda? Curator: Precisely! And consider the imagery: what virtues or attributes does the depiction of Alexander Severus try to convey? That would tell you a lot about the public image he wanted to cultivate. Editor: It's fascinating to think about how art and power were so intertwined, even on something as small as a coin. Curator: Indeed. And examining these objects allows us to understand the daily lives of people in the past and how the Roman state functioned.