Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: This is a denarius of Septimius Severus, held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Its weight is a mere 3.5 grams. Editor: Oh, the past in your palm! I'm struck by how something so small could hold so much power—the portrait, like a ghostly echo of an emperor's ambition. Curator: Indeed. The production of these coins reflects the empire's administrative reach, circulating not just currency, but imperial ideology. Editor: Right. And that wear and tear! You can feel the weight of transactions, the countless hands this little disc has passed through. Curator: It's a fascinating object. Examining the silver content and striking process tells us much about Roman economic and political systems. Editor: To think this tiny thing funded armies, bought loyalty. Makes you wonder what treasures of today will feel like dusty relics centuries from now.