As of Severus Alexander 

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums hold this coin, titled "As of Severus Alexander." The artist is, of course, Severus Alexander himself, though its precise date is unknown. Editor: Its patinated surface speaks of its age and the conditions it has endured. I'm immediately struck by how worn it is—a tangible connection to the past, shaped by the hands of so many people. Curator: Indeed, the images and inscriptions, though faded, point toward an emperor trying to communicate power and legitimacy. Coins like this were tools of propaganda, circulating symbols throughout the empire. Editor: And think of the labor involved in its creation—the mining of the metal, the die-making, the striking of each individual coin. Each one represents a collective effort, a whole network of human activity and resource extraction. Curator: Precisely. This small object embodies both the grand narrative of an empire and the everyday reality of its economy. It's an echo of power, worn smooth by time and use. Editor: Examining this object, I think we gain a new perspective on history—one that's literally in our hands, reminding us of the tangible ways that material culture shapes our understanding of the past.