Coin of Perge (Pamphylia) under Otacilia Severa 

Editor: This is a coin from Perge, during the rule of Otacilia Severa. It's weathered, but you can still make out the portrait and figure. What stories do you think this object holds? Curator: This coin offers a fascinating glimpse into the construction of imperial power and gender in the Roman world. Consider Otacilia Severa, a woman navigating the intensely patriarchal structure. How might a coin, a form of mass communication, be used to negotiate her authority? Editor: So, it's less about the specific imagery and more about what it represents? Curator: Exactly. This coin isn't just money; it's propaganda. What does it mean for a woman's image to circulate so widely, carrying with it the weight of empire and its ideologies? It prompts us to think about the roles women played and how they were represented. Editor: That's a totally different way of looking at it! Thanks. Curator: Absolutely, it's a start to understanding the many nuances of this little but significant object.