Coin of Andeda under Septimius Severus 193 - 211

Curator: This object is a Coin of Andeda, issued under the authority of Septimius Severus. Editor: Immediately, I'm drawn to the coin's materiality. The patinas, the pitting, each imperfection tells a story of usage and circulation. Curator: Indeed. As currency, it functioned as both a medium of exchange and a potent symbol of imperial power, meant to circulate far and wide. Editor: I wonder about the labor involved in its production. The sourcing of the metal, the striking of the design - these processes were integral to projecting that imperial power. Curator: Precisely, the imagery is key. The portrait, the inscriptions, all were carefully chosen to convey messages of authority and legitimacy to a diverse population. Editor: Looking at this object, I can’t help but think about what it has witnessed and the hands it has passed through. Curator: And how its imagery shaped, and was shaped by, those very encounters. An artifact brimming with meaning. Editor: Yes, a small thing made powerful by its very physical presence and impact on society.