Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 195

Curator: Today, we're examining a Denarius of Septimius Severus, a Roman coin currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like a tiny, worn-out mirror reflecting a time long past. I can almost feel the weight of history in it. Curator: The coin's design elements speak volumes about power and imperial representation. The profile portrait is rendered with exacting detail, typical of Roman portraiture. Editor: It's amazing how much information and personality can be crammed onto such a small surface. You feel the authority radiating from the image of Severus. Curator: Indeed. The use of inscriptions framing the portrait also serves to reinforce the subject's status. Editor: It makes you wonder about all the hands this little coin has passed through, and all the stories it could tell. Curator: A tangible link to the Roman Empire, a convergence of art, politics, and economics. Editor: Quite the journey for a small piece of metal, wouldn't you say?