Coin of Stobi under the Emperor Septimius Severus c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: Here we have a coin minted in Stobi under the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus. It’s part of the Harvard Art Museums collection, weighing in at just over 11 grams. Editor: It feels weighty, doesn't it? Like holding a small, corroded sun. There's something deeply human about such a worn object. Curator: Precisely. Coins like this were instruments of Roman power, extending the emperor's image and authority across vast territories. Stobi, in present-day North Macedonia, was a strategic location. Editor: Imagine all the hands this coin has passed through! Each transaction, a tiny drama played out under the shadow of the empire. A tangible connection to the past. Curator: Absolutely. The coin embodies not just economic exchange, but the political landscape and social dynamics of its time. Editor: It's also beautiful. That faded portrait, the worn texture... it whispers stories of empires and everyday life. A humble monument, really. Curator: Yes, a powerful artifact, shrunk down to fit in your palm. Editor: I’ll never look at loose change the same way again.