As or Dupondius of Faustina I 147 - 161

Editor: Here we have an "As or Dupondius of Faustina I." The details are worn, but I'm struck by the presence she holds within such a small space. What visual cues stand out to you? Curator: Notice the symmetry. On one side, Faustina's profile, regal and composed, is balanced by the figure on the reverse. The circular form itself reinforces a sense of wholeness and containment. Note the inscription framing her face, anchoring the image. Editor: So the composition itself creates a sense of power and authority? Curator: Precisely. The artist has cleverly used the limitations of the medium – the small, circular space – to amplify the symbolic weight of the image. It's a study in controlled form. Editor: I hadn't considered the impact of the shape itself! That's a great observation. Curator: Indeed. By considering the formal elements, we gain a deeper understanding of the work's intended effect.