Coin of Hypaepa under Septimius Severus c. 193 - 211

Curator: Here we have a coin of Hypaepa under Septimius Severus, weighing just over 3 grams. The designs are fascinating, showing both imperial power and local identity. Editor: It has a somber, almost ghostly quality to it, with the patina obscuring the finer details of the engravings. I wonder about the labor involved in its production. Curator: Indeed, these coins circulated during a time of both Roman expansion and social stratification. Who was using these, and what did it mean to possess one? Editor: Consider the materiality: the bronze itself, sourced and refined. How did its value translate into daily life and trade within Hypaepa? It’s also about what was being produced. Curator: We can certainly see how this artifact reflects the complex relationship between the Roman Empire and its provinces, a negotiation of power and cultural expression. Editor: These objects connect us to their moment in time, illustrating the power of materials and the labor involved in both image-making and the production of wealth itself. Curator: An enduring testament to the power of symbolism and the echoes of empire. Editor: Exactly, and tangible proof of the systems of material exchange that shaped history.