Denarius of Alexander Severus 

Editor: So this is a Denarius of Alexander Severus. It’s undated, but it’s from the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes me is how something so small could carry so much symbolic weight. How should we interpret its impact? Curator: Coins like this were powerful tools of propaganda. Severus Alexander used them to project an image of imperial authority and virtue across a vast, diverse empire. Consider the symbolism: what values were being promoted? Editor: I see the figure on the reverse, perhaps a goddess? And the profile of the emperor himself, of course. Curator: Exactly. Think about who was being excluded from this narrative, whose voices were silenced to amplify the emperor's? Editor: It makes you wonder about the lived experiences of those under his rule, and how different the reality was from what the coin suggests. Curator: Precisely. Examining the coin through this lens allows us to question the dominant narratives of power and consider the perspectives of the marginalized. Editor: I didn’t realize a tiny coin could open up so many avenues for critical thought. Thanks! Curator: The past speaks volumes, even in whispers.