Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 209

Curator: This is a Denarius of Septimius Severus, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. These small coins were not just currency; they were tools for projecting power and shaping public perception. Editor: There's a stark beauty to it, a quiet dignity despite its age. It makes you wonder about all the hands it has passed through. Curator: Absolutely. Severus, a North African general who rose to become Emperor, understood the potency of images. The portraits on coins helped legitimize his rule, particularly after a period of civil war. Editor: I imagine the weight of that power… reflected in something so small and easily held. It’s almost ironic, isn’t it? Curator: It reveals the tensions inherent in imperial power: the need for monumental displays alongside the everyday control exerted through commerce and visual propaganda. Editor: Thinking about its journey through time… well, it makes you feel connected. That’s what I think great art does, whether it’s painted on a canvas or stamped on a coin.