Coin of Timbriada under Septimius Severus c. 2th - 3th century

Editor: This is a coin of Timbriada under Septimius Severus, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It's small, and the verdigris gives it a somber, almost ghostly feel. What can you tell me about its significance? Curator: Coins like this functioned as powerful propaganda. Septimius Severus used imagery and inscriptions to solidify his rule, particularly after a period of civil war. How do you think distributing these coins might have affected public perception of his legitimacy? Editor: I guess it’s a way of literally stamping his authority on everything. So, the coin isn’t just money, it's a message. Curator: Precisely! It’s a tactile reminder of power, constantly circulating and reinforcing Severus's image within the economy and daily lives of people. Editor: That makes me see this coin in a new light; it's far more than just an artifact. Curator: Indeed. It’s a window into the socio-political strategies of the Roman Empire.