Coin of Sauromates II of Bosporos countermarked with the head of Septimius Severus 

Curator: Here we have a coin of Sauromates II of Bosporos, countermarked with the head of Septimius Severus. Editor: It's fascinating how a single object can carry so much symbolic weight, like a tiny history book. The image of the horseman really stands out. Curator: Indeed. The coin exemplifies the complex political landscape of the Bosporan Kingdom, which had to navigate Roman imperial power. The countermark was a symbolic act. Editor: Symbolically, it shows not just power but also cultural assimilation, perhaps a melding of Roman authority with local identity. I wonder, what did the horse symbolize to them? Curator: A symbol of both military might and regional pride. The very act of altering the coin shows the negotiation of power that defined the era. Editor: Seeing this makes me think about how empires brand themselves and how local populations negotiate that branding. Fascinating.