Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 201

Curator: This is a Denarius of Septimius Severus, a Roman coin currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The coin itself weighs just over 3 grams. Editor: The immediate impression is one of starkness. The metal surface is worn, yet the etched forms retain a compelling, austere power. Curator: Indeed. The choice of imagery is deliberate—on one side, the emperor’s profile, embodying authority. On the other, a figure, likely a deity, signifying the empire's divine connection. Editor: Yes, the figure on the reverse seems to be holding some sort of object, perhaps a scepter or a symbol of military power. It’s a visual shorthand for imperial legitimacy and cosmic order. Curator: Notice also the circular composition, the text acting as a framing device, reinforcing the symbolic weight of the central images. It's a neat, self-contained system of meaning. Editor: Ultimately, this small object served as a potent symbol, circulating ideas of power and divinity throughout the Roman Empire. It's a fragment of belief made tangible. Curator: A fascinating intersection of form and function.