Denarius, probably Severan c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: This is a Denarius, likely from the Severan period. It features Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus. Editor: There’s a quiet strength in the profile, though worn; it evokes empires built and eroded. Curator: The coin’s circular form emphasizes the contained nature of power, doesn’t it? Editor: Power, but also female representation. The Severan dynasty had strong women who influenced politics, and this coin immortalizes that presence. Curator: The relief’s subtle gradations give form, the details minimal, almost abstracted. Editor: It underscores the calculated strategy of visual propaganda, of inserting a female ruler into a male-dominated space through everyday objects. Curator: A fascinating object, considered purely as a construction of material and form. Editor: Indeed, and as a potent emblem reflecting the complexities of Roman imperial society.