Denarius of Severus Alexander c. 223

Editor: Here we have a Denarius of Severus Alexander. The silver is so worn, but still, you can make out the images pressed onto the coin. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see a carefully manufactured object, a medium of exchange, of course, but also a vehicle for power. Consider the labor: the mining, the smelting, the striking of the die, all supporting the Roman economy and projecting imperial authority. Editor: So, the coin's value extends beyond its monetary worth. Curator: Exactly! It's about the socio-economic system required for its production and circulation. The coin embodies an empire's material footprint. Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered all the labor involved. Curator: Examining art this way reveals so much about past societies and perhaps even about our own consumer culture.