Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 210

Editor: This is a Denarius of Septimius Severus, a small silver coin. It's incredible to think about all the hands this object must have passed through! What do you think this coin tells us? Curator: Well, looking at the materiality, silver wasn't just pulled from thin air. Consider the labor involved in mining, refining, and striking this coin. This speaks to the Roman Empire's extraction and control of resources and people. Editor: So, it's not just money, but also a symbol of power? Curator: Exactly! Currency literally embodies the empire’s economic and social structures. What does the imagery suggest to you about consumption or labor? Editor: I hadn't considered that. It's fascinating to think about an object as a historical record of labor and resources. Curator: Indeed, it prompts us to consider whose labor made this possible, and what that labor cost.