Dupondius of Septimius Severus c. 2th century

Editor: Here we have a Dupondius, a coin of Septimius Severus. The aged copper is very evocative. What do you make of this artifact? Curator: Look at the materiality: the copper alloy, its sourcing, the labor in its mining, refining, striking. The coin facilitated trade, fed armies, and paid for monumental architecture, all sustaining the Severan dynasty. How does its creation and circulation reflect the emperor's power? Editor: That’s fascinating! It’s not just a portrait, but a resource. Curator: Exactly. It's a record of Roman labor and the control of resources. The images legitimize the emperor's rule, but the coin itself demonstrates the material foundations of that rule. Editor: I never considered the process like that. Thank you!