Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 199 - 200

Editor: Here we have a Denarius of Septimius Severus. It's silver, and surprisingly small. What is significant about this coin? Curator: Coins like this weren’t just currency; they were powerful propaganda. Consider the context: Septimius Severus seized power through military might. Editor: So, the image of him on the coin… Curator: It's carefully crafted. It’s designed to project authority and legitimize his rule to the masses, and especially the military who were paid with it. Editor: That’s fascinating! I hadn’t considered the political weight of something so small.