Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 200 - 202

Editor: Here we have a Denarius of Septimius Severus. It’s small and quite worn, but still…striking. What can you tell us about the imagery here? Curator: The coin is a powerful artifact, Editor. Consider the portrait of Severus: the strong jaw, the laurel wreath, all designed to project authority. But look at the reverse, the depiction of Pax, the Roman goddess of peace. What contradiction do you observe? Editor: Well, depicting peace, but also clearly about power. It feels almost… propagandistic? Curator: Precisely. The image of Pax serves to legitimize Severus’s rule, masking potential conflict or aggression under the guise of harmony. How do you think this influenced the perception of his reign? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, but now I see the message it sends. Thanks! Curator: It speaks volumes, doesn't it? Cultural memory encoded in metal.