Denarius of Septimius Severus 

Curator: This is a Denarius of Septimius Severus, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Its dimensions are quite modest, weighing in at just 3.59 grams. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It feels weighty, doesn't it? Laden with empire and the currency of power. The material itself speaks volumes. Curator: Indeed. Note how the composition is neatly divided, with the emperor's profile on one side and a triumphant equestrian figure on the other. It’s a clear visual language of authority. Editor: And yet, who does this coin truly serve? Whose hands did it pass through, and what burdens did it ease or exacerbate? Septimius Severus was known for expanding the military, but also devaluing currency. Curator: Perhaps the formal design served to mask those underlying tensions, offering a visual assurance of stability. Editor: A complex interplay of power and representation, isn't it? Food for thought. Curator: Precisely, a small object holding immense historical weight.