Denarius of Septimius Severus, Rome c. 203

Curator: Here we see a denarius of Septimius Severus. It’s Roman, of course, and made of silver. What stands out to you? Editor: The relief is quite worn. It gives it a rather ghostly quality, as if the coin remembers a power long faded. Curator: These coins were tools of political communication. Severus, a North African general who seized power, needed to legitimize his rule. Editor: Note the careful composition, the portrait on one side, the seated figure on the other, each contained within a beaded border. Curator: And what of the implicit message, the Emperor’s image multiplied and disseminated? Editor: A fascinating example of how form can reinforce function. Curator: Indeed. It carries so much more than monetary value. Editor: A testament to the power of visual language.