AR Septimius Severus 

Curator: Well, hello there! This little treasure is an AR Septimius Severus. It's a silver coin, if you couldn't tell, and get this—the artist is Septimius Severus himself, or at least he was the one who commissioned it! Editor: There's something haunting about the way time has worn it, almost like seeing a ghost of power, a stark reminder that empires crumble. Curator: Indeed! And look, on one side we have Severus in profile, all regal and bearded, and on the flip side, Victory herself, wings spread wide. A message in metal, wouldn't you say? Editor: Absolutely. Victory, often used to legitimize imperial power, becomes complicated when considering Severus's brutal military campaigns and the social inequalities of the Roman Empire. Curator: True, coins were propaganda as much as currency. Still, there's a human touch here, a desire for lasting legacy. Editor: A legacy built on conquest and domination. It's a potent symbol, forcing us to confront the complexities of power and memory. Curator: Makes you think, doesn’t it? Even something so small can carry such weight. Editor: Definitely. It pushes us to question whose stories are amplified and who gets to write history.