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

Curator: Here we have a coin from Kremna, issued during the reign of Septimius Severus. It's a tangible link to the Roman Empire, weighing just over four grams. Editor: Immediately, the worn texture and the faded image evoke a sense of antiquity, of stories and power diminished but not erased. Curator: Indeed. Coins like these weren't just currency, but potent symbols of imperial authority. Examining the iconography – perhaps a portrait of Severus himself – offers a glimpse into the construction of Roman identity. Editor: The repeated image, mass-produced and distributed, imprints power relations onto the everyday lives of people, constructing Roman authority but also potential contestation. Curator: Precisely. And considering Kremna's provincial status, we can ask questions about how the empire's periphery engaged with the center's representations of power. Editor: It’s powerful to imagine the hands this coin passed through, the transactions it facilitated, the silent witness it was to history unfolding. Curator: Absolutely, and studying this coin forces us to consider the complex interplay between Roman imperial ambitions and local identities. Editor: Yes, a tiny object holding so many layers of meaning.