Coin of Stobi under the Emperor Septimius Severus c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: Holding this coin, I feel a strange connection to Septimius Severus, even though he lived so long ago. Editor: I see a worn surface, time’s patina almost obscuring the images. A portrait on one side, a figure on the other, pressed into humble metal. Curator: This bronze coin, minted in Stobi during his reign, speaks of Roman power extending far beyond Italy. Stobi, now in North Macedonia, was strategically important. Editor: Coinage broadcasts political and social values to a wider audience, and they are a way to stabilize economies within the Empire. I imagine the Severan dynasty wanted to solidify its legitimacy. Curator: Yes, it's a piece of propaganda, if you will, but also everyday currency that depicts power. Do you see the figure on the reverse? She's a local deity, perhaps Tyche, a guardian of cities. Editor: To me, the appeal lies in its physicality. The weight, the feel… Imagine all the hands it passed through. A tangible link to a distant past. Curator: Exactly! These coins were meant to circulate, to be held, spent. In a way, each transaction was a small affirmation of the emperor's authority. Editor: Looking at it now, it makes me wonder about the value systems we impose on objects and the weight of history we place upon them.